Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
In the rolling hills of Montalcino’s southwestern quadrant, nestled between clay-rich slopes and maritime breezes, you’ll find a producer who defies convention with quiet confidence: Elia Palazzesi. The name might not yet echo across collector circles the way some of his neighbors' do, but among those who know, Palazzesi is quickly becoming shorthand for elegant Brunello with an organic backbone and an artisan’s soul.
At the heart of the project is Collelceto, the Palazzesi family’s seven-hectare estate, where Elia is the fourth generation to farm the land—but the first to bottle estate wines under his own name. The farm dates back to the late 19th century, originally focused on mixed agriculture. Today, it is entirely dedicated to Sangiovese, organically farmed and handled with precision both in the vineyard and the cellar.
Sustainable by Nature, Organic by Choice
Elia and his family don’t treat sustainability as a marketing trend—it’s been part of their ethos long before it became fashionable. The vineyards are fully certified organic, and farming is done with a deep respect for biodiversity and soil health.
Key practices include:
- Hand-tended vines: From pruning to green harvest, each step is manual and site-specific.
- Minimal intervention: No synthetic chemicals are used—just certified organic treatments when necessary.
- Clay-loam soils with pebbles help retain moisture and regulate vine stress during hot Tuscan summers.
There’s a small team at work here—Elia, his wife Michaela, daughter Zoe, and niece Sofia—backed by a very photogenic horse named Bella. Despite the modest size, the attention to detail is anything but small.
Precision in the Cellar
While the vineyard practices lean traditional, the winemaking is a modern exercise in restraint and clarity. Elia collaborates with acclaimed oenologist Lorenzo Landi to craft wines that express both the site and the season with clarity.
Vinification is parcel-by-parcel, in stainless steel tanks, with a preference for native yeasts unless conditions demand otherwise. Aging is carried out in a mix of large Slavonian oak barrels and neutral tonneaux, depending on the cuvée:
- Rosso di Montalcino: Aged 10–12 months.
- Brunello di Montalcino: Aged 30 months in oak, plus bottle aging.
- Brunello Riserva: Aged 40 months, then additional time in bottle before release.
The goal? Wines that are structurally serious but texturally refined, capable of aging gracefully but approachable in youth. No heavy extraction. No makeup. Just beautifully grown fruit and disciplined craftsmanship.
Awards & Critical Acclaim
For a relatively under-the-radar estate, Elia Palazzesi has turned heads in all the right places:
- James Suckling awarded the 2020 Brunello di Montalcino 94 points, praising its precision and red-fruited lift.
- The 2018 Brunello Riserva earned 96 points, with Suckling calling it “polished, earthy, and beautifully poised.”
- Wine Enthusiast and Decanter have both featured the estate as a rising star, often noting the balance between depth and freshness.
- Critics consistently highlight the wines’ ability to combine structure with elegance—attributes that are particularly valuable as the Brunello category sees a swing back toward finesse.
What sets Elia Palazzesi apart isn't just the organic farming or critical praise—it’s the rare combination of humility, heritage, and high standards. While other Brunello estates chase prestige, Palazzesi seems more interested in purity and authenticity, producing wines that are transparent windows into their terroir rather than exercises in luxury branding.
The entire operation is run with a human-scale sensibility: real people, working real vineyards, making wines that reflect both a place and a philosophy. This is the kind of producer that collectors discover by chance and then keep close for decades.
So whether you're an importer hunting for expressive, sustainable Montalcino or a drinker chasing the next under-the-radar gem, remember the name: Elia Palazzesi. Quietly making some of the most honest and compelling wines in Tuscany—one vintage at a time.
