Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo 2019 750ml

#35 TOP 100 WINES OF ITALY, 2022. 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.

Rated 97 - The 2019 Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo is made from a blend of the finest grapes from four historic vineyards, Bellavista, Casuccia, San Lorenzo and Montebuoni. It is a Sangiovese-dominant wine with up to 20% of Merlot and Malvasia Nera. This last point is likely to become a bone of contention in the future because in 5 years’ time the Gran Selezione category will exclude non-native varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot even though the Merlot has by now become affected by the 'terroir'; according to winemaker and owner, Marco Pallenti it has become 'a native' over time. In any case this 2019 is a very pretty, bright and joyful wine with plenty of black fruit and spicy red plum flavors. It is delightfully harmonious, balanced, and complete on the palate with a long, savory, saltiness that according to Pallenti, “comes come from the limestone soil.” Although Castello D'Ama are not certified as organic, Pallenti says, “I try to be as much organic as possible. We stopped using insecticide in 2000 and we use sexual confusion methods to deter vineyard pests and reduce sprays.” - The Wine Independent

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. This is a production of 80,000 bottles.

Sleek and racy, featuring cherry, blackberry, violet and iron aromas and flavors. This red is more about fruit and finesse, though there's an element of wild Mediterranean scrub. Firm, with dense, resonant tannins and a long finish. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2045.

The 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Ama San Lorenzo is a wild, beautifully layered wine. Touches of Merlot and Malvasia Nera lend striking complexity and dimension to a mid-weight yet fleshy Gran Selezione. Iron, cured meats, spice, leather and dried leaves all take shape in this deceptively mid-weight yet deep, highly expressive Gran Selezione.

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.