Castello di Ama - San Lorenzo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2017
Price: $54.25
Producer | Castello di Ama |
Country | Italy |
Region | Tuscany |
Subregion | Chianti Classico |
Varietal | Sangiovese |
Vintage | 2017 |
Sku | 08223 |
Castello di Ama Description
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.
Castello di Ama San Lorenzo has a remarkable ability to evolve, developing aromatic complexity and exemplary intensity over time.
James Suckling: 96 Points
Cherries, dried flowers and slate on the nose with some fresh mushrooms. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a juicy, chewy finish. Lots of structure and freshness to this. Extremely serious as always. Tight and focused.
Wine Enthusiast: 95 Points
Underbrush, ripe black-skinned fruit, new leather and violet mingle with a whiff of exotic spice on this fragrant, elegantly structured red. The medium-bodied palate delivers ripe black cherry, cassis and star anise framed in polished, enveloping tannins. It shows the firm's hallmark of finesse and impeccable balance, not easy to achieve in this scorching vintage.
Decanter: 94 Points
Oenologist Marco Pallanti chose not to make Castello di Ama's single vineyard Bellavista and La Casuccia bottlings in 2017 as he felt the excessively hot conditions gave slightly aggressive tannins. Instead, he focused on making the best possible selection from all vineyards to go into the San Lorenzo Gran Selezione. It opens with lots of dusty cherry, dry earth and sweet thyme. Well-stacked with round fruit, the palate is lifted by pressed violet nuances. Assertive but polished tannins give definition, the wood is understated and acidity bright and integrated. Besides deft balance, San Lorenzo demonstrates admirable elegance and is a great success in this challenging vintage.
Wine Spectator: 93 Points
Leafy, eucalyptus and juniper aromas and flavors lead off, with cherry and black currant close behind. Stiff tannins leave an astringent feel, but there is fruit underneath. Overall, this is very fresh and vibrant.