A UK-exclusive Super Tuscan wine, 100% Sangiovese, from the heart of the Chianti Classico region. Winner of the prestigious Decanter Platinum medal

Made only in the very best years, from the very best grapes, Pecchia is a truly exceptional single-varietal Sangiovese red wine. The vineyard of Gagliole is organic, and located in Panzano in the mountains of Chianti. Every September the grapes are harvested by hand and brought to the cellar, where they are carefully sorted. Only the best berries are picked for Pecchia.

Gagliole was awarded its organic certification in 2016. It is possibly the most futuristic winery we've visited. The vats are fitted with high-tech electronic controls, and the wine is fermented in a cutting-edge rotary system. The fermentation process takes place in slowly rotating new French oak barriques, which rotate six to eight times per day for 45 days. This gently extracts the deep colour and ripe tannins, while avoiding drawing the bitter "green tannins" into the wine. After that, the barriques are sterilised and used for ageing. Pecchia is aged for 18 months in oak, and spends a further year in bottle to further develop its delicate and balanced flavour.

Tasting notes

Deep ruby colour. On the nose, the wine is elegant and very complex, with beautifully integrated aromas of red cherry, blackberry, redcurrant, liquorice and aromatic herbs –mint, fennel and cloves – with reflections of chocolate and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is dry, bold and fresh thanks to its high acidity. Succulent tastes of red cherry, liquorice and mint dominate, with a long lingering finish. Thanks to its pronounced aromas of fruits and berries, this wine will age beautifully in the bottle.

Ageing potential

10 years

Awards

Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum Medal (2015 vintage) | James Suckling - 96 points (2015 vintage) | Robert Parker, Wine Advocate - 95 points (2015 vintage) | Antonio Galloni, Vinous - 92 points (2015 vintage) | Falstaff - 96 points (2015 vintage)

Deep emerald in colour, this extra virgin olive oil is exquisitely aromatic with a touch of bitterness.

In 2021, we visited 18 wineries across Italy looking for the perfect artisan olive oil. Gagliole’s is one of the few we picked. This Extra Virgin Olive Oil is produced by the Gagliole winery at their age-old mountainside estate in Castellina. It’s full of fresh herbaceous aromas, has a dense texture and the eye-catching colour is absolutely enchanting.

The quality of olive oil is defined by its acidity; the lower the better. Gagliole Extra Virgin Olive oil has very low acidity, well below the legal limit. It's perfect for drizzling over salads and fresh ciabatta as an easy accompaniment for fine wine and nibbles.

How it's made

The oil is made from Frantoio, Leccino and Moraiolo olives from trees grown on terraces around the mountain near Castellina in Chianti (pictured). This style of planting olive trees is traditional to the Chianti Classico region - the olives' strong roots protect the land from erosion, and it's a more sustainable way. We’re happy to see Gagliole decided to keep it that way, rather than switching to the modern large-scale style of planting we often see elsewhere.

The olives are harvested by hand in November. Immediately afterwards, they are pressed right in the middle of the estate and the oil is bottled.

Cosimo Soderi, who works at Gagliole, showed us the press and explained to us that they keep old traditions alive to this day. When it’s harvest time, they call in retired people who used to work for Gagliole. The old men and women harvest the olives, and they get paid not with money, but with freshly-pressed oil. Olive oil is a staple of the Italian diet, but it’s quite pricey, and retired people would find it hard to afford it otherwise. This supply may well get their families through the winter.

Tasting Notes

Gagliole Extra Virgin Olive Oil has a deep emerald colour. It's packed with aromas of rosemary, basil leaf, pine needles and notes of saltiness and minerality. In the mouth, it offers a delicate taste with a touch of zesty bitterness - the signature of fine Tuscan oil.