This wine was first produced in 1996 and represents a selection of organic Sangiovese from a high-elevation site (at around 500 meters above sea level) characterized by labor-intensive Pietraforte and sandstone soils that are only found on the upper ridges of Panzano. Fruit has been drawn from this site exclusively since 2013, and the wine will become a Chianti Classico Gran Selezione soon (although it was not produced in 2017). Fruit for the Gagliole 2016 Pecchia is fermented in barrique and aged for 18 months (in both second-use barrel and some stainless steel). It also rests in glass for two years. This is a gorgeous and extremely elegant wine, with a firm backbone and delicate layers of fruit and spice. A salty mineral note underlines the wine's freshness and brightness. The name Pecchia comes from honeybees that "poke" the berries looking for sugar. I think we can expect this wine to get even better now that the new winery is up and running.

This wine was not produced in 2014. The 2015 Pecchia sees fruit sourced from the estate's best Sangiovese planted at 500 meters above sea level. What stands out most here is the wine's texture, which is firm and tightly knit. That compact nature of the fruit bodes very well for the future aging potential of this wine that I expect will play forward for ten years or more. The wine shows muscle and power that is applied with broad brush strokes. Despite the evident depth and dimension on offer here, this wine remains a bit closed and shy at this young stage. Pecchia requires more patience. Only 2,500 bottles were made.

A single-vineyard wine with definition and refinement that caresses every millimeter of your palate. Medium to full body, fine and silky tannins and a long finish of ripe cherries and orange peel. Superb. Pure sangiovese. Drink or hold.

The single-vineyard 2013 Pecchia represents a tremendous effort. Fruit is sourced from a two-hectare plot in Panzano in Chianti. This wine is only produced in the best vintages. The 2010 vintage was the last time we saw this wine and it will appear again in 2015. The bouquet is bright and buoyant with crisp, almost crunchy characteristics. The wine is beautifully balanced and tonic with carefully measured layers of wild berry, cassis and spice that contribute to the wine's overall complexity and elegance. This is a beautiful red wine from Tuscany.