Castello di Ama - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 'San Lorenzo' 2015 (Magnum)

Castello di Ama was founded in 1976, and is located in Gaiole in Chianti, within the additional geographical unit of the same name (UGA), located in the heart of Tuscany. It is located about 12 miles northeast of Siena in the hills of Gaiole. This is the heart of Chianti Classico, a bucolic rolling landscape of woods, vineyards and olive groves.

The estate is currently helmed by CEO Lorenza Sebasti, a member of the second generation of one of the four founding families. Marco Pallanti, who was once the President of the Chicanti Classico Consorzio, has been the winemaker and technical director at Castello di Ama since 1982.

Castello di Ama is known for their commitment to excellence, which they believe begins in the vineyards. This is shown through respect and care for the land, manual processing of the grapes, and very low yields per acre.

Castello di Ama San Lorenzo is named after the picturesque San Lorenzo valley
viewed from the estate’s eighteenth-century Villa Pianigiani and Villa Ricucci. This wine is produced from the finest grapes grown in the historic vineyards Bellavista, Casuccia, San Lorenzo and Montebuoni. An expression of Sangiovese blended with the smallest quantities of Merlot and Malvasia Nera, the hallmarks of this complex wine are finesse, elegance, intensity, length and freshness.

The assemblage of the three grape varieties takes place at the end of the malolactic fermentation. Afterwards the wine is transferred into oak barrique – of which 18% are new – of fine grain for approximately 10 months.  This wine has been bottled in July 2017.

"What first strikes you about the nose is that it offers one of the purest fruit expressions of all the 2015 Gran Seleziones. Blackcurrants, orange and lemon rind, brambleberries, heather, sage, thyme and blackberry leaves are all a feature. The tannins are steely, and the flavors are so savory. The fruit is carried through to the long, chewy finish by the highly refreshing acidity. Drink in 2020." - 95 Points, James Suckling

"The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo represents a blend of some of the estate’s best Sangiovese from vines that are 20 years old and more.  You do feel that extra density, intensity and complexity within the very fiber of this beautiful wine.  The effect is deep and layered.  Castello di Ama is characterized by limestone clay soils mixed with both galestro and alberese marl stones.  There is about 60 centimeters of topsoil and compacted clay below that." - 95 Points, Wine Advocate 

"An elegant version, saturated with black cherry, blackberry, graphite and tar flavors, this red delivers a solid backbone of tannins and bright acidity.  Finishes on the tannic side.  Best from 2021 through 2029.  850 cases imported." - 90 Points, Wine Spectator

Producer: Castello di Ama

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

Varietal: Sangiovese, Merlot, Malvasia Nera

Appellation: Chianti Classico DOCG

Vintage: 2015

Size: 1.5L