Castello di Ama
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo 2015
| Denomination | DOCG Chianti Classico Gran Selezione |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% by volume |
| Area | Tuscany (Italy) |
| Grape varieties | 80% Sangiovese, 13% Merlot, 7% Malvasia Nera |
| Aging | At the end of the malolactic fermentation, the three varieties were blended. Subsequently, the wine was aged in fine-grained oak barriques, 18% of which were new, for about 10 months. |
| Other years | 2011 , 2013 , 2016 , 2018 , 2019 , 2020 , 2021 |
- Name and vintage: Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015, Tuscany
- Grape composition: 80% Sangiovese, 13% Merlot, 7% Malvasia Nera
- Vinification: hand-picked, indigenous yeasts in stainless steel and malolactic fermentation in barrique
- Ageing: around 10 months in fine-grained oak barriques, 18% of which are new
- Tasting notes: cherry, strawberry and leather, fine tannins. Serve at 18-20°C after 1 hour of decanting
Description
What kind of wine it is
The Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo from Castello di Ama is a Tuscan red wine with an intense ruby colour. Created from a careful blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Malvasia Nera, it offers fruity aromas of cherry and strawberry, intertwined with tertiary notes of leather. On the palate, it is juicy and persistent, guided by mature and delicate tannins. The finish is marked by vivid freshness, accompanied by hints of dark berries, damp earth and undergrowth, for a structured and balanced tasting experience.
Where it comes from
The grapes come from the Ama valley in Gaiole in Chianti, from estate-owned vineyards over ten years old. The vineyards are situated between 460 and 525 metres above sea level, facing east and south-east. The clay-limestone soils, rich in stones, ensure natural drainage. The significant temperature variations between day and night promote gradual ripening, aiding the accumulation of noble substances in the berries and preserving freshness, for a distinctive and well-defined aromatic profile.
How it is produced
The manual harvest takes place between late September and early October. The grapes are vinified separately: fermentation occurs spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures, with macerations lasting 22-26 days and frequent pump-overs. After racking, malolactic fermentation takes place in wood. The different varieties are then blended to create the final blend, which matures for about ten months in fine-grained oak barrels. This period of ageing enriches the structure, giving the wine complexity and harmony on the palate.
History and Curiosities
San Lorenzo takes its name from the small church of the same name and the evocative Ama valley, dominated by the historic eighteenth-century Pianigiani and Ricucci villas. Founded in 1976, Castello di Ama enhances this area by offering a prestigious Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, a top-quality wine made exclusively from grapes grown in estate-owned vineyards. The renowned 2015 vintage, produced in 89,780 bottles and celebrated by critics such as James Suckling and Robert Parker, represents an oenological milestone of profound Tuscan elegance.
Awards
-
2015
95/100
James Suckling is an influential American wine critic and journalist who worked at Wine Spectator for 30 years. He left the magazine in 2010 to start his own website and guidebook (JamesSuckling.com). He specialises in Italian and Bordeaux wines.
-
2015
95/100
The prestigious international wine guide from the renowned Robert Parker, the world's most experienced and trusted wine taster.
Tasting notes
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
18 - 20 °C
Longevity:
10 - 15 years
Decanting time:
1 hour
- Start up year: 1976
- Oenologist: Marco Pallanti
- Bottles produced: 320.000
- Hectares: 75
To date, Castello di Ama owns and manages about 75 hectares of vineyards and 40 hectares of olive groves, relying on the work of more than 60 people. The role of general manager and oenologist is held continuously by Marco Pallanti, who served, between 2006 and 2012, as President of the Chianti Classico Consortium, bringing the contribution of the creation of the 'Gran Selezione' category with the aim of highlighting the extraordinary quality and diversity of the region's wines. Read more
| Name | Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo 2015 |
|---|---|
| Type | Red still |
| Denomination | Chianti Classico DOCG |
| Vintage | 2015 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 80% Sangiovese, 13% Merlot, 7% Malvasia Nera |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Tuscany |
| Vendor | Castello di Ama |
| Story | History and Curiosities San Lorenzo takes its name from the small church of the same name and the evocative Ama valley, dominated by the historic eighteenth-century Pianigiani and Ricucci villas. Founded in 1976, Castello di Ama enhances this area by offering a prestigious Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, a top-quality wine made exclusively from grapes grown in estate-owned vineyards. The renowned 2015 vintage, produced in 89,780 bottles and celebrated by critics such as James Suckling and Robert Parker, represents an oenological milestone of profound Tuscan elegance. |
| Origin | Gaiole in Chianti (SI) |
| Soil composition | Medium-textured clay-limestone, stony |
| Cultivation system | Vertical trellis with simple Guyot pruning |
| Harvest | Between the end of September and the beginning of October |
| Fermentation temperature | 30–33 °C |
| Fermentation | 22 days (Sangiovese); 25 days (Merlot); 26 days (Malvasia Nera) |
| Production technique | Manual harvesting in crates; fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks with maceration and pumping over; malolactic fermentation in barriques; blending and ageing in fine-grained oak barriques. |
| Wine making | Separate vinification for each variety; fermentation started with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature (30–33 °C) with maceration and manual pump-overs (22 days for Sangiovese, 25 days for Merlot, 26 days for Malvasia Nera); after racking, malolactic fermentation in barriques, then blending and ageing in fine-grained oak barriques (about 10 months, 18% new). |
| Aging | At the end of the malolactic fermentation, the three varieties were blended. Subsequently, the wine was aged in fine-grained oak barriques, 18% of which were new, for about 10 months. |
| Total acidity | 6.1 gr/L |
| Dry extract | 30.9 gr/L |
| Year production | 89780 bottles |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |