Castello di Ama - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 'San Lorenzo' 2022

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.

80% Sangiovese, 13% Merlot, 7% Malvasia Nera; alcohol: 13.5%; vines from Bellavista, Casuccia, San Lorenzo and Montebuoni vineyards between 1510-1720 feet; hand harvested September 13 – October 6, 2021; lots vinified separately using only ambient yeasts; fermented at controlled temperatures 86–91°F in stainless steel tanks; malolactic fermentation then blending in oak barriques; aged in 22% new oak barriques for 12 months; bottled in June 2023.

"Aromas of al dente fruit, sandalwood, violets and roses follow through to a precise palate of dark cherries. Medium-bodied and subtle, with very fine tannins that are elegant and vivid. Like grand cru Burgundy, in essence. Available in March 2026. Drink on release or hold." - 98 Points, James Suckling

"One of three top-shelf expressions from Castello di Ama, the 2022 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo is mostly Sangiovese (up to 80%, with smaller parts Merlot and Malvasia Nera). It represents a selection of the best fruit sourced from across various plots. What stands out here is the excellent ripeness of the fruit, with blackcurrant and cherry. The wine reveals just a hint of cinnamon or nutmeg from the grape skins. It is balanced and level, tucked in at the right places and exuberant in others. You get good freshness and lasting elegance. This is a memorable vintage of San Lorenzo. 2025 – 2045" - 95 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"The 2022 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Ama San Lorenzo is redolent of black cherry, plum, graphite, leather, incense, licorice and dried flowers. Ample and dense, the 2022 stains the palate with waves of dark fruit intermingled with salivating acids and beams of tannin. This full-bodied Gran Selezione has a ton to offer. I would give it a few years to settle, as it is quite imposing in the early going. 2027 – 2038 This is a spectacular set of new releases from Castello di Ama. In recent years, Marco Pallanti has backed off extractions, started doing less saignée and reduced the impact of oak. The results are nothing short of breathtaking. Every wine in the range is stellar, and some are utterly profound. “We had a very hot summer in 2022, then rain in both August and September,” Pallanti explained. “The challenge was waiting for phenolic ripeness. Our harvest wrapped up during the first week of October, which is on the later side for us by today’s standards.” - 95 Points, Vinous

Producer: Castello di Ama

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

Varietal: Sangiovese, Merlot, Malvasia Nera

Appellation: Chianti Classico DOCG

Vintage: 2022

Size: 750ml