Palazzo Vecchio is an estate located in the Valiano sub-zone in the east of the Montepulciano region in Tuscany. It makes Rosso di Montepulciano DOC and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG red wines, plus a Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC.

Background: In 1470, the estate formed the bulk of Fattoria di Valiano, an ancient holding of the Hospital of the Innocents in Florence which, in the 1950s became the property Count Riccardo Zorzi (after the demise of the sharecropping or mezzadria system, I think). In 1980 the count’s son-in-law Marco Bernidori, and his wife Maria Alessandra Zorzi, began re-structuring. They produced their first bottled wine in 1990. Marco and Maria’s children are Luisa and Luca Sbernadori (sic). Current manager: Marco Sbernadori.

Vineyards: 26 ha of vines. There are 22ha in Valiano: 21.7ha of Sangiovese plus Canaiolo and Mammolo for red wines. Also 0.3ha for Vin Santo. Clay-tufo-limo. In 2019 I was told the wines are made from 6ha. Grapes from the other 20ha of vines are sold.

Winery: C13th underground cellar. Gamba wooden vats.

Red wines

Rosso di Montepulciano DOC, Dogana: 2002 Coffee nose from new oak and also a bit stemmy and the finish is very short (Consorzio tasting 8th March 2005). | 2010 Botti. Bit green and blurred: old fashioned tannins, brightish fruit (Anteprima 2014). | 2011 80% Sangiovese, 20% others. Open, ripeish, light, refreshing, hint of green too, okayish but no more (Anteprima 2014). | 2017 80% Sangiovese, 10% each Mammolo and Canaiolo. From three plots (210-220m). 12m in botti. 10,000 bottles. Nice fruit, shape (Anteprima 2019).

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Maestro: 2010 85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo, 5% Mammolo. Flat red fruit and some rubber, a bit astringent and baked (DWWA 2013). Bronze medal. | 2014 Feral, acidic, drying out (Anteprima 2018). | 2015 85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo Nero, 5% Mammolo. 35yo vines from around the winery. 24m in oak. 14% alc. Savoury fruit (Anteprima 2019).

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Riserva, Terrarossa: A cru. | 2009 4,000 bottles. Bright, polished, somewhat attenuated (Anteprima 2014). | 2012 85% Sangiovese, 15% Mammolo, Canaiolo Nero, Colorino. 14% alc. Bright, wild savoury fruit (Anteprima 2019). | 2013 100% Sangiovese at 220m. 14.5%. 48m in oak. Very ripe, bold, rich, but balanced and savoury (Anteprima 2019).

Rosso dell’Abate Chiarini:

Sweet wines

Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC: Grapes dried for 4-6 months inside wbut with open air flow.

Contact

Fattoria di Palazzo Vecchio

Via di Terra Rossa, 5

Valiano

53045 Valiano di Montepulciano (SI), Italy

Tel+39 0578 724170 | Website: See here.

GPS Coordinates: 43.1622, 11.9015