Castello di Ama

One of Tuscany’s leading, most historically important estates, Castello di Ama is responsible for some of the regions key innovations and has an extensive reputation for the production of premium quality wine. Located in Gaiole, in the sub region of Chianti Classico, the estate consists of 76 hectares under vine. Today it is run and owned by Lorenza Sebasti, descendant of one of the original four families and Marco Pallanti, one of Italy’s top winemakers. Together they have reinvested in the property, replanting old vineyards and built a state-of-the-art winery.


Surrounding the village of Ama, the vineyards sit between 420 and 527 metres above sea level. All grapes are carefully selected, hand-harvested and fermented with native yeasts. Though Sangiovese remains the majority of their production, Pallanti is known for being one of the first to introduce French varietals to the Chianti Classico district, most notably Merlot and Cabernet Franc. He is recognized for adopting the notion of the single-vineyard cru system in Chianti Classico, with Vegneto Bellavista, Vigneto San Lorenzo and Vigneto La Casuccia.


Castello di Ama produce benchmark wines, both profoundly complex and refined. Their single vineyards Casuccia, Bellavista and San Lorenzo are considered some of Italy’s greatest red wines and can age gracefully for decades, while the Merlot L’Apparita is simply world famous and one of the world’s greatest expressions of the Merlot variety.

All wines by this producer (8)

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"This wine has earned its spot in a world of pantheons that is grande vini Italiani. The Castello di Ama 2018 L'Apparita is one of the world's greatest Merlots, and this slightly cooler growing season delivers on all the promise and pedigree that we should expect of this collectors' favorite. L'Apparita opens to an inky dark and blackish appearance, and the bouquet slowly reveals black fruit, ripe cherry, dark spice, smoke and barbecue rub. The wine's texture and finish, which is so velvety and rich, so supple and soft, is what will ultimately win you over. Indeed, this wine excels especially in terms of the elegance and fullness of the mouthfeel." 99 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (October 2021)


"The 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto La Casuccia is stunning. What a wine! In this vintage, the aromatics are huge and expansive, a theme that comes through on the palate as well. Cedar, tobacco, dried leaves, incense and blood orange all race out of the glass. The 2019 is mind-blowing in its intensity, pedigree and overall balance. It's the wine of the vintage in Chianti Classico" 100 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (July 2022)