New reds from Il Palagio, the famed Tuscan estate

WINE SPECTATOR: Brand New Day for Il Palagio

Bruce Sanderson • September 8, 2020

AB CSPC/SKU # 849673

2020 ‘WHEN WE DANCE’

Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Colorino - Chianti DOCG

This DOCG Chianti is the perfect entry point into Il Palagio's oeuvre. Made as unobtrusively as possible, this cuvée showcases the naked terroir of Valdarno. Fermented and aged six months in stainless steel, this wine lets the fruit dance on its own two feet without any oak spice. This is the perfect food wine, pirouetting with bright red fruit and citrus undertones on a medium body and fully ripened, silky tannins. Primed for drinking now and an ideal companion at any table with it’s lively acidity and perfect compliment to any tomato based dish.

AB CSPC/SKU # 849676

2020 ‘MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE’ ROSSO

100% Sangiovese - Rosso Toscana IGT

The message in this bottle is spicy, herbaceous, and red fruited, and whatever else you might need to hear. Aged 12 months in large neutral oak, this is a perfectly centre-cut, straight-over-the-plate Sangiovese, a wine you could train on for blind tasting, and a gorgeous one at that. Dark ruby. Exquisitely ripe notes of plum and cherry and iron buoyed by baking spice and dried herbs. Medium-bodied with firm but fine tannins. The joyful taste of Tuscany, you can almost see that golden Valdarno light with every sip.

AB CSPC/SKU # 849675

2020 ‘MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE’ BIANCO

100% Vermentino - Bianco Toscana IGT



Bright yellow with greenish reflections, starting out delicately floral and fresh with aromas of citrus and some pineapple and banana, leading to subtle acidity and a lot of character that belies its light footed 12.5% abv. Five months in stainless with a small portion in large neutral oak to add nuance without losing freshness. Simply a pleasure for acolytes of Vermentino.

AB CSPC/SKU # 849679

2020 ‘BACI SULLA BOCCA’

100% Vermentino - Bianco Toscana IGT

This is the first Il Palagio wine from the hand of famed winemaker, Riccardo Cotarella, who joined just before harvest. Trudie asked Riccardo to tackle this wine in particular, as they are both obsessed with Vermentino. She named it Baci Sulla Bocca (meaning kiss on the mouth) because it struck Trudie as exactly that when she first tasted it. Trudie then created the label using Elliott Erwitt's 1955 photo California Kiss, explaining: "at a time when hugs and kisses have been given up to the pandemic, this wine is sent forth as a hope for the future.” This kiss delights with fragrant notes of peach, apricot, and jasmine.

AB CSPC/SKU # 866625

2018 ‘LA DUCHESSA’

Sangiovese - Chianti Riserva DOCG



Il Palagio's first venture into the Riserva category, these oldest Sangiovese vines on the best sites originally provided the fruit for Il Palagio's former tête de cuvée, "Sister Moon." The overall quality of the 2018 vintage was so good that Riccardo Cotarella decided to rebrand the cuvée as a Riserva Chianti DOCG. La Duchessa strikes is a cellar worthy gem revealing Chianti's cooler climes compared to its more muscular brother in Montalcino. The components form a harmony of ripe sour cherry and dark forest berries, with lovely notes of smoke and spice and even some grapefruit nuance. Juicy acidity on the palate, delicious, and elegant with an indelible finish. This is an opulent wine and inviting wine.

AB CSPC/SKU # 866626

2019 ‘1530’ SUPER-TUSCAN

Riccardo Cotarella's best foot forward, this is Il Palagio's new tête de cuvée under the aegis of this legendary vigneron. Aged in barriques for 12 months, this vintage smells of blackberries and juniper, medicinal herbs and tobacco, tomato leaves and marked aromas of spices, especially cinnamon and licorice with a hint of tar. Each sip delivers a tender volume, a well balanced weight on the palate that offers soft yet plentiful tannin and a long intense finish.