Marchesi Pancrazi

Marchesi Pancrazi was founded in 1975 in the province of Florence. The winery is owned by Giuseppe Pancrazi. The 51 acres of vineyards grow only the best clones and contain high levels of iron in the soil, essential to producing complex Pinot Nero.

THE HISTORY

The story of Marchesi Pancrazi began in 1975, when the villa’s owner, Marquis Vittorio Pancrazi, planted 3,300 “Sangiovese” vines on his property. Then one day in 1989, an oenologist friend of the Marchese pointed out the “Sangiovese” was actually Pinot Noir — in fact, probably Tuscany’s oldest Pinot Noir vines! At this point, Vittorio Pancrazi decided to vinify it on its own, and naturally put his Bordeaux-educated oenologist friend, Niccolò D’Afflitto, in charge of the experiment. After over a year’s maturation in small oak barrels, Allier barriques, and six months’ bottle age, the trial not only succeeded, it exceeded all expectations. Today the estate sits on 173 acres, 14 of which are under vine. The vineyards have undergone replanting with only 5% of the original local clone remaining. The new vines are densely planted with eight different Pinot Noir clones from Burgundy (# 113, 114, 115, 521, 666, 667, 777, 943). Their careful crafting adds dimension and complexity to the Pinot Noir of Villa di Bagnolo and makes for an even more graceful, mellow style, starting with the 2000 vintage.

THE TERROIR

The soil on the Monte Ferrato property is composed of clay, schist, serpentine, and is particularly rich in iron. The Monte Ferrato property, as well as the San Donato property, use a gravitational irrigation system for all vineyards, with natural water from the hillside. This water is also high in iron, which is instrumental for Pinot Noir complexity.