In our over 17 years of business, Palazzino's Argenina Chianti has become our top-selling Tuscan red... which is pretty darn impressive considering we have only been selling it for 5 years! Simply, there is no other Tuscan red we would rather drink, day in, day out, year in, year out, then the Argenina. And, quite simply, this is the best Argenina yet.

Palazzino Chianti Classico Argenina 2016

Sale $19.99 

No review yet - 92 pts Vinous for 2015

2016 is the highest-rated vintage EVER for Tuscany according to the Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator. You think our most-consistently awesome producer knocked it out of the park? You know they did... 

If you are already on the Palazzino bandwagon, feel free to scroll down to the order button. If you’re not familiar with Palazzino then… um… where have you been?!?

Simply, the house of Il Palazzino is THE source for all things Tuscan under $30. Period. Table red Sangiovese, Chianti Classico, Single Vineyard Chianti Classico, a “Super Tuscan” Bordeaux blend, and, for kicks and giggles, a 100% Colorino! From $13-40, we have been able to find no better! 

As Antonio Galloni explains, "The Sderci family makes bold Chianti Classicos that showcase the more virile side of Sangiovese. These are deep, powerful wines of real character and distinction."

"Virile." Well then. Um. Uh. Um. Uh. I suppose that pretty much sells the wine for everyone, eh? 

Okay, seriously, what makes Palazzino's wines so special is the attention they pay to farming the grapes. For example, while 2015 was a warm, dry vintage, their organic viticulture and use of cover crops allowed the vines to avoid the drought stress that other’s faced. The vintage started hot and dry and continued into the summer that way, causing stress on many vines. But the Sderci family practices organic and biodynamic principles. In this case, the use of cover crops in the vineyard helped minimize the effect of the heat. Think how it feels when you step barefoot into your lawn on a hot day – ahhh… cool grass! Same thing works in the vineyard, with the complementary plants helping to keep the vineyard cooler, reducing stress on the vine and allowing for a slower ripening of the fruit. As a result, the wine is blessed with rich fruit and balanced acidity. To further accentuate these characteristics, the grapes were fermented at a lower temperature than normal in order to preserve the intensity and the primary aromas of the grapes.

Sounds so simple, right? You’d be surprised… At any rate, Palazzino took everything Mother Nature gave them and has churned out a wine that I feel could be the best of them all. No seriously, I think this is my favorite Argenina... the winery keeps making little adjustments to make the wine more vibrant and pure, all while retaining its sense of place. I mean, you know this is Chianti... you just didn't know Chianti could be this good! It's the power I enjoy - while retaining the wine's characteristic purity, there is an underlying power that captivates me. Bistecca alla Fiorentina, anyone? 

Pop the bottle and this baby bursts forth with dark cherry, plum, wild herbs and rose petals. More dark cherry flavors wash across your palate, buoyed by sweet spices, anise and violets. The finish is long and layered. Then pair with… hmmm… grilled zucchini, peppers and eggplant served with chicken and/or sausage skewers. A light salad of arugula and tomatoes and topped with shaved pecorino. Hmm…


or reply. . The wine is available now in Chapel Hill. Friday, as ordered, in Hillsborough.