Castello di Ama San Lorenzo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2021
Castello di Ama is located in the small historic village of Ama, in the municipality of Gaiole in Chianti, between Florence and Siena in Tuscany.
The settlement of Ama dates back to Etruscan times, and is first mentioned in medieval documents. Over the centuries it evolved from a fortified “casale” to a proper castle.
By the 1970s the estate had fallen into disuse. In 1976 four Roman families (Sebasti, Tradico, Carini and Cavanna) bought the property to revive and restore the vineyards and winery.
In 1982, a young agronomist named Marco Pallanti became the enologist/winemaker, marking a turning point. His vision, plus that of current CEO Lorenza Sebasti (daughter of one of the founding families) shaped Castello di Ama’s modern identity
Over the decades, the estate expanded: from the original approximately136 acres [55 hectares]. Today there are about 185 acres [75 hectares] of vineyards, plus olive groves and estate buildings.
Beyond winemaking, Castello di Ama is unique among Tuscan estates because it embraces art: starting in the late 1990s, they initiated a contemporary-art project integrating site-specific works by internationally known artists throughout the estate. Many describe Castello di Ama as a place where wine, history, landscape, and art meet.
Terroir, Vineyard, & Winemaking Philosophy
The vineyards of Castello di Ama lie at relatively high altitude for Chianti: between 1378 and 1739 feet [420 and 530 meters] above sea level. Soils are limestone-clay (and in some plots chalky/schyist), and the exposure and altitude help produce grapes with good acidity, structure, and “freshness” — which supports elegance and aging potential.
The estate emphasizes care in viticulture: vineyard parcels are close to the winery (to minimize time from harvest to cellar), and they pay close attention to clonal selection and replanting over time to maintain vine health and grape quality.
Castello di Ama was among the early adopters in the region of more modern winemaking techniques (e.g. use of French oak barrels back in the early 1980s), which influenced the style and quality of their wines.
The estate also embraces sustainability. It’s committed to organic practices, and more recently has taken steps including renewable energy (solar) and certification to ensure environmentally and socially responsible operations.
Castello di Ama San Lorenzo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2021
Vines used for “Ama” are relatively young (around 10 to 12 years old), and planted at high density (about 5,200 vines per 2.4 acre or hectare). The wine is named after the picturesque San Lorenzo valley viewed from the estate’s eighteenth-century Villa Pianigiani and Villa Ricucci. The historic vineyards include Bellavista, Casuccia, San Lorenzo, and Montebuoni.
This Castello di Ama Chianti Classico is a blend of 96% Sangiovese and 4% Merlot. It is a bright medium-opaque ruby in the glass, but it’s unassuming appearance only hints at what is to come. The nose features black cherry and strawberry. These continue on the palate, plus notes of violet and red currant. There are strapping but well-integrated tannins, balanced by fresh acidity. The texture is mouthfilling, with a harmoniously long finish. ABV is 13.5%
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