Excellence is at home at Querciabella, but the winery, though accustomed to the highest standards of quality and execution, when vintages permit exceeds itself by releasing a wine, Palafreno, that evokes the military parades in vogue in the Middle Ages.

Created to correspond with the 2000 vintage, it was initially composed of Merlot and a balance of Sangiovese, re-proposing the executive style of Camartina: from 2004 onward, Palafreno found its own dimension, setting aside Sangiovese to embrace Merlot as a monovarietal.

Merlot vineyards come from the Ruffoli, Greve in Chianti, Cypresso and Marrone plots, all grown on land adjacent to the winery at about 350/400 meters above sea level. The vineyards, facing southwest, insist on soil rich in marl, fairly loose and rich in skeleton, with different yields in terms of grape personality between the top of the vineyards, characterized by greater concentration and intensity, and the base, richer in clay, which brings more acidity. Yields are deliberately limited to about 25 to 30 quintals per hectare conducted biodynamically since the year 2000.

After careful selection on the vine and harvesting in crates of about 10 kg each, the grapes are destemmed and crushed, followed by alcoholic fermentation in oak vats, where the Merlot berries are macerated and also undergo malolactic fermentation before racking into barrels for an 18-month aging in wood before an additional 12 months after bottling.

On tasting, the Palafreno has an intense and concentrated ruby red color, while the nose opens with a disarming breadth that anticipates aromas of ripe forest fruits reminiscent of blackberry, dark cherry, blueberry and plum, continuing with hints of rosemary, eucalyptus and black olives, puffs of white pepper, vanilla, blond tobacco and roasted coffee. In the mouth emerges fullness and richness, the sip is warm and enveloping and conveys a pleasant balance between the alcoholic-glyceric part and the trio of hardnesses, where acidity and savoriness figure well alongside a very elegant tannin before a very persistent closure with a fruity and slightly mentholated return.

In keeping with its evocative name, the Palafreno behaves like a noble steed accustomed to the form and elegance of aristocratic courts. Produced only in optimal vintages in about 2,500 bottles and now in its ninth vintage, Palafreno is a champion to be collected and released only on great occasions, that is, in its natural environment.