Its ratings are among the most coveted accolades for wineries around the world: the U.S. publication Wine Advocate, conceived by Robert Parker, has awarded as many as three Panizzi wines, all with ratings above 90 points:
Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva 2015 (94), Vernaccia di San Gimignano Santa Margherita 2018 (92+), and Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2019 (90+).
In her review of Vernaccia vintages for Wine Advocate, Monica Larner points out the pleasant surprise of the high number of organic Vernaccia wines, in a percentage that Larner declares to be the highest among all the major Italian appellations among those surveyed: proudly, since 2020 Panizzi, too, has been among the group of producers of organic Vernaccia di San Gimignano (as are all other Panizzi wines and extra virgin olive oil, too, 100% organic).
Panizzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva 2015 (94)
Here is another excellent Riserva from San Gimignano, demonstrating the aging potential of this area’s main white grape variety, Vernaccia. Ripened in a warm, sunny vintage, the 2015 Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva is fermented in oak and sees up to a year of aging in new barrels. Aromas of spice, toasted vanilla and honeyed almonds intertwine with those of apricot and preserved lemon, with notes of saffron, cumin and turmeric. A structured wine with good volume. (M.L., Wine Advocate November 2020)
Panizzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano Santa Margherita 2018 (92+)
Vernaccia di San Gimignano Vigna Santa Margherita Panizzi 2018 is fermented in both stainless steel and neutral barriques. The grapes come from the estate’s historic vineyard, with vines 40 years old or older grown in tuffaceous soil. This is another flagship wine from San Gimignano, now showing a fresh, savory personality but also the right texture to continue its evolution in bottle for five years or more. Pleasant mineral and hydrocarbon notes appear on the finish. (M.L., Wine Advocate November 2020)
Panizzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2019 (90+)
The 2019 Vernaccia di San Gimignano Panizzi is made from 92 percent Vernaccia grapes and 8 percent Manzoni Bianco, from sandy yellowish tufa soils. It is an exceptional wine, and the addition of the outer grape brings lasting changes, especially in terms of brightness and freshness of the bouquet, with notes of green melon, kiwi and mint apple juice, with slight mineral overtones on the finish. Another outstanding wine from the “Manhattan of the Middle Ages,” San Gimignano. (M.L., Wine Advocate November 2020)
