A majestic red that presents deep notes of dark fruit, menthol, herbs, licorice and new leather. The firm and balanced tannins provide structure to the elegant and polished finish.
Wine Spectator 93 points - A tightly wound, linear red, with floral, black cherry, black currant, earth and mineral flavors shored up by edgy tannins. Balanced in a lean way, with a vibrant, resonant finish. Merlot. Best from 2015 through 2024.—B.S. (Feb 13 2013)
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Founded in 1972, Castello di Ama is one of Tuscany’s preeminent estates. Situated at 1,574 feet above sea level near Gaiole-in-Chianti, this 617 acre estate owns some of the finest vineyards in the appellation. Husband and wife Marco Pallanti and Lorenza Sebasti, who’ve owned the property since 1982, have successfully steered the estate through major renovations and improvements – a total replanting between 1982-1987, a dramatic increase in plant density to 2,800 per acre, the introduction of French varieties and new winemaking equipment. In 2003 Marco was named Oenologist of the Year by Vini d’Italia and the couple continues to build upon their reputation for crafting benchmark Chiantis. All the fruit at the estate is hand-picked. The wines of Castello di Ama are like their owners – elegant, refined and undeniably authentic.
Technical notes
(100% Merlot). Grapes from the best parcels in the Bellavista vineyard were hand-picked and macerated for 26 days with pump overs. The wine fermented in French oak barrels (40% new) after which it was racked, blended and matured in barrel for 18 months.
Producer
Founded in 1972, Castello di Ama sits 12 miles northeast of Siena in the hills of Gaiole.
The property is owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Marco Pallanti
and Lorenza Sebasti. Marco was a young viticulturalist who in a very few years had
become one of the most highly respected winemakers in Tuscany. He began to
experiment with non-traditional varieties such as Merlot, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, to
enhance the concept of cru wines (introducing Vigneto Bellavista, Vigneto La Casuccia
and L'Apparita) and to utilize small oak barrels. In 2003, he was crowned Oenologist of
the Year by Vini d'Italia, published by Gambero Rosso and Slow Food. Over the past
30-40 years, he replanted all of the vineyards and upgraded all of the winemaking
capabilities to make this one of Tuscany's showcase producers. 90 hectares are
planted to vines at an average altitude of 480 meters with a southern exposure and clay-calcareous soils. The
obsessive dedication to quality in both the vineyard and winery has made Castello di Ama not only one of
Tuscany's greatest wine producers, but one of the finest wineries in the world.
