Castello di Ama - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 'San Lorenzo' 2019 (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.

“Perfumed and beautiful with flowers, cherries and raspberries. Forest fruits, too. Full-bodied with extremely fine tannins that run the length of the wine and are wonderfully integrated, spreading across the palate. Lasts for minutes. Better after 2025, but already fantastic.” - 97 Points, James Suckling

“The 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo draws its fruit from various sites selected throughout the estate, and for that reason, it is often the most representative wine from Castello di Ama (despite its more approachable price). This vintage is especially interesting, showing a more formal quality of tannins for longer aging potential and softly extracted dark fruit that sets it apart. Vintner Marco Pallanti likens 2019 to 2004 or 2016, some of the best vintages in recent memory. The wine is partially aged in new oak, and the percentage of new barrels used depends on the vintage conditions. This edition sees 20% new oak, medium toast and fine grains. The team is working with lower temperatures during fermentation with more numerous pump-overs for the first couple of weeks, then the wine is left alone. Fresh cherry fruit, blackberry, spice and grilled herb emerge. 2024 – 2038.” - 95 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“A blend of the estate’s four historic vineyards – Bellavista, Casuccia, San Lorenzo and Montebuoni – from plantings that are at least 25 years old, this bottling is, for now, Castello di Ama’s flagship Gran Selezione. There’s plenty to unpack here. A top note of vanilla complements red cherry, tobacco and thyme. Diving into the palate, the juicy red plum core is nuanced by freshly turned earth and rose. Assertive in personality but equally gracious, it’s hard to resist at the moment. Those well-formed tannins of polished wood, and charming grapey scratchiness should keep this in nick for the next eight to 10 years. 2023 – 2033.” - 94 Points, Decanter

Producer: Castello di Ama

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

Varietal: Sangiovese, Merlot, Malvasia Nera

Appellation: Chianti Classico DOCG

Vintage: 2019

Size: 1.5L