Great wine is the result of numerous elements: full understanding of the rootstock and its terroir, an extraordinary talented winemaker working in harmony with his team, owners and management with a huge respect for each other and the duties they perform, accompanied by an unending amount of patience and passion. All these attributes are present at Castello di Ama.
The modern history of this winery began in the mid 1970’s when Tomaso Carini and three friends namely, GianVittorio Cavanna, Pietro Tradico and Lionello Sebasti purchased the land and property now referred to as Castello di Ama.
Soon after they replanted a large portion of the vineyards and built a winemaking cellar.
Marco Pallanti joined the “team” in 1982 and became the estate’s winemaker which continues to be his role today. With his training at the University of Bordeaux under the tutelage of world’s renowned enologist Patrick Léon, the die was cast to produce the finest wines possible from the chosen terroir.
Lorenza Sebasti the daughter of one of the owners took over stewardship of the estate in 1993 and forged a bond with Marco built on mutual respect, passion and their fundamental need to produce excellence.
The estate contains 75 hectares under vine, situated between 410 - 530 metres above sea level (a.s.l.), spread out over four valleys whose names they share with their famous labels Bellavista, San Lorenzo, La Casuccia and Montebuoni. Average production is 300,000 bottles annually which, considering the density of planting and the area under vine, is a very small number due to the meticulous selection of superior quality fruit.
Vineyards:
San Lorenzo
Altitude 460-525 metres a.s.l. Approximately 25 hectares planted with Sangiovese. East to Southeast facing. Chalky soil and clay rich schist.
Bellavista
Altitude 420-520 metres a.s.l. Approximately 22 hectares. Sangiovese and Malvasia Nera producing the cru. Facing South to Southwest. Stoney soil, mostly clay and chalk.
L’ Apparita
Altitude 500 metres a.s.l. Approximately 3 hectares.
Vines planted in a North/ South direction. This wine was a ground breaking release in 1985 being made with 100% Merlot. Soil consists of clay and chalk.
La Casuccia
A terrace of beauty, constructed to give Sangiovese a North/South direction. Approximately 18 hectares, planted between 480- 530 metres a.s.l. Exceptionally stoney with clay. This wine is made up of Sangiovese and Merlot
Montebuoni
Purchased in 1997, extends to 14 hectares and faces South to Southwest at 420 to 510 metres a.s.l. Rich clay deposits at the lower level, chalk and stones on the higher slopes.
Here we find: Sangiovese approximately 7 hectares, Cabernet Franc 2 hectares, Merlot 3 hectares, Malvasia Nera almost 2 hectares. Density 5500 vines per hectare.
Aside from being the beacon for Chianti Classico, Castello di Ama, reminds all who visit of the close spiritual link between the art liquid and the art form.
World famous artists are invited to create an artwork defining the soul of this iconic place. The resulting collection gives a magical experience that defines the land, the historic buildings, and the individual life forms of the wines produced.
Wine Tasting
In the wine cellar, I tasted many barrel samples.
A visit to the tasting room followed, where an amazing selection of wines from recent vintages including some not yet released:
Castello di Ama Chianti Classico DOCG 2018
Ruby red in colour. Fresh ripe red cherry, pomegranate, liquorice, essence of Kirsch. Round, juicy. Broad, persistent finish.
Points 93+ TW
Castello di Ama Montebuoni Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2018
Red ruby in colour. Red cherry, red berries, orange peel. Integrated into a succulent and juicy mouthfeel. Fresh, pure and rounded. So quaffable.
Points 93-95 TW
Castello di Ama San Lorenzo Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione 2016
Dark ruby in colour. Red cherry, soft plum, savoury, liquorice, wet leather. Stunning textural richness. Dense, long finish.
Points 96 TW
Castello di Ama San Lorenzo Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione 2017
Deep ruby red in colour. Red cherry, zest of orange, red liquorice. Has put on weight since last tasting on 24th February 2020 Chianti Classico Collection in Florence.
Points 93 TW
Castello di Ama San Lorenzo Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione 2018
Bright ruby red in colour with purple undertones. Deep evolving ‘junior” of Vigneto Bellavista: dark cherry, blackberry, orange peel, liquorice, mellow tobacco, spice.
Balanced like the scales of justice. So expressive, endless finish. Approachable now, but will bring to the fore more nuances with bottle age. Spectacular showing. A triumph.
Points 95-97+ TW
Castello di Ama Haiku IGT 2018
50% Sangiovese 25% Cabernet Franc 25% Merlot
Deep ruby red in colour. Wild forest berries, spice, cigar tobacco, black Calabrian liquorice. Harmonious, complex. Structured yet soft. Elegance in a liquid form.
Points 93-95 TW
NOTE: The name Haiku refers to a short form of poetry, originally from Japan, which usually comes in three parts.
Castello di Ama Vigneto Bellavista Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione 2016
Dark ruby red in colour. Mixture of black berries and dark cherry. Savoury, chewy, tobacco, vanilla.Tons of energy. Floats on the palate, underpinned with spicy minerality on the back end. What a wine!
Points 98-100 TW
Castello di Ama Vigneto Bellavista Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione 2018
Bright ruby red in colour. Fresh red fruits of cherry and raspberry. Layered intensity. Extra expression on the mid palate. Stunning energy. Utterly beguiling.
Points 96-98 TW
Castello di Ama Vigneto La Casuccia Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione 2016
Deep ruby red in colour. Dark cherry, blackberries, bitter chocolate, tobacco, leather. Savoury and earthy. Robust. Built to last for decades. Slightly closed. A little dusty.
Points 93-96 TW
Castello di Ama L’Apparita Toscana IGT 2017
Intense ruby red in colour. Bouquet of rose and soft berries, subtle overtones of cherry, mint and liquorice. A whisker off full bodied, showing clarity and precision.
Wine needs plenty of contact with oxygen to fully express itself.
Points 96+ TW
Castello di Ama L’Apparita Toscana IGT 2018
Bright ruby red in colour. Aromatic delineation and nuance, fresh red cherry, spice.
Was not giving away too much. Tight yet polished. Finely grained tannins. Needs bottle time and air.
Points 95-97 TW
Lunch followed this tasting, during which additional gems emerged from the cellar…
Castello di Ama Vigneto Bellavista Chianti Classico DOCG 2006
Intense ruby red in colour. A mix of blue floral aromatics with black fruit taking the predominant role. Cherry liqueur, cocoa, cedar. Mint and balsamic notes. Introducing an elegant body, still youthful with tense tannins. Superb intensity. Very persistent finish. All about finesse.
Points 97 TW
Castello di Ama Vigneto La Casuccia Chianti Classico DOCG 2004 (in Magnum)
Deep ruby red in colour. A swathe of dark fruits, blue flower aromatics introduces one to a potent, brooding and muscular wine, yet with further aromas of roasting coffee and spice notes, liquorice. Hauntingly long finish.
Points 95 TW
My visit coincided with the last day of the 2020 vendemmia at Castello di Ama. Ten minutes after these photos were taken it was complete!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lorenza Sebasti (www.castellodiama.com), for her kindness and generosity bestowed upon me during this visit. I also wish to thank my dear friend Marco Molesini (www.molesini-market.com) with whom I shared this day and who kindly allowed me to use some of his photos.
© Tony Wood Italian Wine