98 James Suckling
A deep and beautiful red with ripe berry, plum and orange peel character. Almost exotic in style. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a caressing texture. Goes on for minutes. So beautiful now but will be event better in 2018. Greatest L'Apparita ever?
96 Robert Parker
Compared to 2010, the 2011 L'Apparita (100% Merlot) is a very different wine. It's impossible to imagine how Castello di Ama could improve on the utterly divine and delicious 2010, but I liked 2011 even more. Again, I just feel that this estate with its vineyards that reach beyond 500 meters in altitude performs best with warm vintages such as this one. Those who love Castello di Ama's wines will have to wait until the 2013 vintage is released. This is a gorgeous wine that sings in a loud and graceful voice. That extra cherry softness of Merlot has been pulled back to a perfect point. The wine offers layers of richness and suppleness. The effects are layered, complex and absolutely engaging. This is a standout wine.
The big news from Castello di Ama this year is that owner Marco Pallanti and his team decided to completely forgo all wines from the difficult 2012 vintage. That year caused particular hardship on Castello di Ama because of its location at one of the highest points in the Gaiole-in-Chianti sub zone. Sangiovese grapes were not able to reach full ripeness during a year that saw uneven spells of heat and cool temperatures throughout the growing season. Castello di Ama farms 75 hectares of vines that span throughout four small valleys. The vines are planted between 470 and 520 meters above sea level with clay and calcareous limestone soils. During my visit, I sampled the three single-vineyard wines that have been upgraded to Gran Selezione status: The 2011 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo; the 2011 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto La Casuccia; and the 2011 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto Bellavista. Because I had the opportunity to taste those same wines last year, I wanted to avoid scoring them twice and causing confusion in our database. I will say that the 2011 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo has fleshed out further since I first tasted it last year and definitely merits a second look. The Bellavista and La Casuccia expressions have only been made seven times in the estate's history, including some of my favorite vintages: 1997, 2001, 2004 and 2011. All these top wines were made in 2013 and I can't wait to taste them. The good news from this estate is that a new restaurant has been added to the property. Elegant dining room windows and a beautiful terrace overlook some of the most beautiful vineyard vistas in Chianti Classico. If you are visiting this area, I enthusiastically recommend Castello di Ama for a leisurely lunch break among the vines.
96 Robert Parker
Compared to 2010, the 2011 L'Apparita (100% Merlot) is a very different wine. It's impossible to imagine how Castello di Ama could improve on the utterly divine and delicious 2010, but I liked 2011 even more. Again, I just feel that this estate with its vineyards that reach beyond 500 meters in altitude performs best with warm vintages such as this one. Those who love Castello di Ama's wines will have to wait until the 2013 vintage is released. This is a gorgeous wine that sings in a loud and graceful voice. That extra cherry softness of Merlot has been pulled back to a perfect point. The wine offers layers of richness and suppleness. The effects are layered, complex and absolutely engaging. This is a standout wine.
The big news from Castello di Ama this year is that owner Marco Pallanti and his team decided to completely forgo all wines from the difficult 2012 vintage. That year caused particular hardship on Castello di Ama because of its location at one of the highest points in the Gaiole-in-Chianti sub zone. Sangiovese grapes were not able to reach full ripeness during a year that saw uneven spells of heat and cool temperatures throughout the growing season. Castello di Ama farms 75 hectares of vines that span throughout four small valleys. The vines are planted between 470 and 520 meters above sea level with clay and calcareous limestone soils. During my visit, I sampled the three single-vineyard wines that have been upgraded to Gran Selezione status: The 2011 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo; the 2011 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto La Casuccia; and the 2011 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto Bellavista. Because I had the opportunity to taste those same wines last year, I wanted to avoid scoring them twice and causing confusion in our database. I will say that the 2011 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo has fleshed out further since I first tasted it last year and definitely merits a second look. The Bellavista and La Casuccia expressions have only been made seven times in the estate's history, including some of my favorite vintages: 1997, 2001, 2004 and 2011. All these top wines were made in 2013 and I can't wait to taste them. The good news from this estate is that a new restaurant has been added to the property. Elegant dining room windows and a beautiful terrace overlook some of the most beautiful vineyard vistas in Chianti Classico. If you are visiting this area, I enthusiastically recommend Castello di Ama for a leisurely lunch break among the vines.
18 Rene Gabriel
Merlot. Sehr dunkles Purpur mit rubinem Rand. Geniales, süsses Bouquet, dezent rahmig, eleganter Ansatz, faszinierendes Nasenspiel mit einem gewissen Melissentouch. Im Gaumen noch vordergründig und mit körnigen Noten aufwartend. Hier hätte ich etwas mehr Schmelz erwartet, aber vielleicht ist es die Jahrgangsstrenge, welche da (noch) etwas vorherrscht. Kann mittelfristig noch zulegen. 18/20 2017 – 2026
18 Rene Gabriel
Merlot. Sehr dunkles Purpur mit rubinem Rand. Geniales, süsses Bouquet, dezent rahmig, eleganter Ansatz, faszinierendes Nasenspiel mit einem gewissen Melissentouch. Im Gaumen noch vordergründig und mit körnigen Noten aufwartend. Hier hätte ich etwas mehr Schmelz erwartet, aber vielleicht ist es die Jahrgangsstrenge, welche da (noch) etwas vorherrscht. Kann mittelfristig noch zulegen. 18/20 2017 – 2026
92 Wine Spectator
This dense, elegant red displays black currant, bilberry, coffee and bittersweet chocolate aromas and flavors. Dusty tannins shore up the finish, where a cocoa note lingers. Best from 2017 through 2027. 80 cases imported. –BS
92 Wine Spectator
This dense, elegant red displays black currant, bilberry, coffee and bittersweet chocolate aromas and flavors. Dusty tannins shore up the finish, where a cocoa note lingers. Best from 2017 through 2027. 80 cases imported. –BS
