One of the great wineries based in Tuscany, Querciabella produces a magical range of wines everywhere from Maremma to Chianti. The name Querciabella means ‘beautiful oak’ as the estate dates back to 1988 when Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni, an investor and entrepreneur, converted the family estate to organic viticulture in 1988, making Querciabella one of the first wineries in Italy to employ this practice. Under his leadership, Querciabella became known as one of Italy’s most well-known producers in this region. What was now a single hectare is now 100 hectares for their estate.
The winery produces a range of wines from their ‘Batar’ which is an extraordinary white wine blending Chardonnay and Pinot Blanco, to their incredible Chianti Riserva, which was first made in 2011 and sees extended barrel age. The new edition of their Riserva comes from 2015 (OB, 95) as this wine is hedonistic but nicely structured with incredible finesse and length. I also really adored the 2015 Querciabella ‘Palafreno’ IGT Toscana (OB, 95) which is a Merlot wine that is truly extraordinary with its florals and finesse. This is one for any lover of unique Merlots of the world. Learn more about this famed Italian estate at https://querciabella.com and here are my notes from the gorgeous Querciabella releases.
2017 Querciabella ‘Batar’ White Wine- The 2017 ‘Batar’ is a downright stunning blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco. The palate is utterly seamless and hugely complex. Salted Macadamia nut and wild mushroom tones mingle with cantaloupe, banana and stony minerals on the palate. Showing great viscosity and verve, this beautiful wine will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 94
2019 Querciabella ‘Mongrana’ Maremma- Sourced from vineyards planted back in 2000, this wine blends Sangiovese (50%) with Cabernet Sauvignon (25%) and Merlot (25%). Beautifully textured, the wine shows smoke and sage that mingles with salted red fruits, orange rind and tobacco on the palate. Beautiful even at the two year mark, this should cellar well for another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 91
2018 Querciabella Chianti Classico- This Sangiovese saw twelve months in French oak before bottling. Soft and generous, this shows very pretty tart red fruits that collide with tobacco leaf, cigar ash and dried herbs on the palate. Plush and soft, with a beautiful sense of texture, this outstanding bottling will continue to live on for another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 91
2015 Querciabella Chianti Reserva- Sourced from vineyards in Radda and Greve, this ‘Riserva’ is a barrel selection wine that saw sixteen months elevage prior to bottling. The nose is beautifully perfumed with red rose petals and blood orange zest, as well as iodine and menthol tones that all meld together in the glass. The palate is deeply concentrated but also wonderfully elegant. Ripe red fruits collide with minerals, smoke, pipe tobacco and green herbs on the palate. The length and generous viscosity add to the enjoyment here. This beauty has only just begun its long reign. Drink 2021-2038- 95
2016 Querciabella ‘Camartina’ IGT Toscana- A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and the reminder Sangiovese, this saw sixteen months of French oak before bottling. The nose is quite extraordinary with red bell pepper and thyme that mingle with the massive core of dark fruits and chocolate. The palate is plush with a seamless texture. Rich blackberry and huckleberry flavors mingle with fresh herbs, tobacco leaf, baking spices and Mandarin orange rind on the palate. Compelx and highly delicious to savor now, this will provide drinking enjoyment for many decades to come. Drink 2021-2037- 94
2015 Querciabella ‘Palafreno’ IGT Toscana- The ‘Palafreno’ is 100% Merlot sourced from vineyards in Greve. The nose is beautifully perfumed with red florals and salty tones that mingle with wild blackberry compote and tar undercurrents. The palate is soft and sinfully good. The seamless texture really impresses here as ripe red and dark fruits come alive, with great freshness and earthy tones adding to the complexity. Firm tannins hold everything in place brilliantly, as this beautiful wine will cellar well for another fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2021-2038- 95