Appellation: Toscana IGT
First vintage: 2000
Grape: Merlot
Vineyards: Ruffoli, Greve in Chianti
Viticulture: Plant-based biodynamics
Certifications: Vegan; Organic
Maturation: 18 months
French oak barriques
Annual production: 2,600 bottles
Alcohol content: 14.5% vol.
Tech sheet
Scheda tecnica
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Palafreno 2020
96+/100 Antonio Galloni · Vinous
95/100 John Gilman · View From the Cellar
94/100 Bruce Sanderson · Wine Spectator
94/100 James Suckling
Palafreno 2019
98/100 Antonio Galloni · Vinous
95/100 James Suckling
Palafreno 2017
96/100 Antonio Galloni · Vinous
94/100 James Suckling
92–94/100 O. Kiem, S. Staffler · Falstaff
92/100 Bruce Sanderson · Wine Spectator
See Palafreno Scores
Decanting
Palafreno benefits from about 30 minutes of decanting prior to serving.
Ideal serving temperature
18–20° C (64–68° F)
Recommended glasses
Riedel Extreme Cabernet 4441/0
Riedel Performance Cabernet 6884/0
Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux Grand Cru 4400/00
Riedel Sommeliers Hermitage 4400/30
Zalto Bordeaux 11200
The 2019 Palafreno is stunning, not to mention one of the greatest wines I have ever tasted here. Silky, plush and exceptionally vivid in the glass, the Palafreno possesses breathtaking beauty that captivates all the senses. Readers who can find it should not hesitate. It’s a real head-turner.
– ANTONIO GALLONI · Vinous
Palafreno offers plenty of hedonistic delight on the table with its velvety texture, and a savoury, sustained finish. It generally pairs well with Italian cuisine, as it can take the acidity of tomato-based dishes and a bit of hot spiceness. With older vintages, choose richer foods with earthy flavours like root vegetables, mushrooms, lentils and beans, to allow Palafreno to shine and reveal the depth of its varietal expression.
· Lentil pot roast with porcini mushrooms and spiced cranberry sauce
· Mushroom and potato Wellington with thyme and rosemary
· Parsnip, chestnut and cranberry loaf with a sage butter drizzle
· Vegan Eggplant Parmigiana
· Butternut squash lasagne with a creamy garlic-tahini sauce
· Creamy Cumin-Spiced Pumpkin Mac n’ Cheese
0.750 litre, 6 bottle wooden case
1.5 litre, 1 bottle wooden case
3 litre, 1 bottle wooden case
6 litre, 1 bottle wooden case (exceptional vintages)
12 litre, 1 bottle wooden case (exceptional vintages)

Name
Palafreno is an ancient Italian word designating a noble riding horse used by medieval knights for travel, parades or tournaments. It is a reference to the Italian Renaissance epic poem, Orlando Furioso.
Design
The label, designed by Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni,features artwork from artist and designer John Downer, whose impeccable technique evokes the style of marble floors and Roman mosaics found in Tuscan churches.
The typeface Simona was designed by Jane Patterson and John Downer for Querciabella’s exclusive and proprietary use.
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