Castello di Ama : San Lorenzo Gran Selezione 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of San Lorenzo Gran Selezione 2022 by Castello di Ama

Tasting

Colour
Deep, dark ruby red in colour, this wine is highlighted by violet hues characteristic of its youth.

Nose
The bouquet reveals lovely aromatic complexity, with notes of wild fruit and elderberries, accompanied by a stony minerality evoking the limestone soils from which it originates. Nuances of leather, black cherry, sandalwood, violet and rose complete this elegant and refined ensemble.

Palate
The palate shows a medium to full body, carried by silky, refined and polished tannins. The aromatic palette unfolds flavours of red and black cherry, liquorice, spice, leather and graphite. The whole stands out for its elegance, freshness and intensity, with a lively acidity that lends tension. The graphite-like minerality characteristic of the region's great wines lingers into a long, persistent finish.

Food and Wine Pairing

This wine pairs particularly well with lamb-based dishes, whether braised with beans, roasted with aromatic herbs, or grilled with robust sauces. It also brilliantly accompanies roasted red meats, game such as wild boar or venison, and aged hard cheeses. Mediterranean dishes featuring tomatoes, herbs and olive oil also make excellent pairings.

Service and Storage

It is recommended to decant this wine before serving, or to open it a few hours in advance to allow its aromas to fully express themselves. The ideal serving temperature is between 16 and 18°C. This wine can be enjoyed from 2027 through at least 2046, demonstrating remarkable ageing potential.

An Exceptional Chianti Classico Gran Selezione from the Finest Terroirs of Gaiole

The Estate

Founded in 1976 by four Roman families, Castello di Ama has established itself as one of the essential names in Chianti Classico. Located in the municipality of Gaiole in Chianti, the estate spans approximately 80 hectares of vines spread across four valleys at altitudes ranging between 430 and 520 metres. Since 1988, the estate has been led by Lorenza Sebasti as managing director, while Marco Pallanti, winemaker and former president of the Consortium, has overseen technical direction since 1982. A pioneer in adopting sustainable practices, the estate obtained Equalitas certification in 2022 and has produced wines free of synthetic chemical residues since 2018. It is also distinguished by its artistic commitment, hosting works by internationally renowned contemporary artists within its vineyards.

The Vineyard

The San Lorenzo Gran Selezione 2022 comes from a rigorous selection of the estate's oldest and finest plots: Bellavista, Casuccia, San Lorenzo and Montebuoni, located in the historic heart of the appellation. These vineyards benefit from varied exposures ranging from north-east to south-west, on clay-limestone soils rich in limestone and schist. Planting density reaches 5,500 vines per hectare, with vines trained using simple Guyot on vertical trellising. The selected Sangiovese clones and the 420 A rootstock were chosen for their optimal adaptation to the specific soil and climate conditions of Gaiole. The entire vineyard is managed according to the principles of sustainable agriculture, notably using pheromone-based pest control since 2000.

The Vintage

The 2022 vintage in Tuscany proved particularly demanding, marked by an exceptionally dry winter followed by a scorching spring and summer. Temperatures exceeded 30°C as early as May, reaching peaks of 38 to 40°C in July, with no significant rainfall during June and most of August. These extreme conditions created significant water stress in the vineyards. Fortunately, providential rains in mid-August allowed the vines to resume their ripening cycle, ultimately leading to a harvest described as beautiful and surprising. Despite the climatic challenges, the grapes achieved optimal phenolic ripeness while retaining remarkable freshness.

Winemaking and Ageing

The harvest took place by hand between 13 September and 6 October, with specific picking dates for each grape variety to respect their optimal ripeness. Each variety was vinified separately in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, with fermentations carried out by indigenous yeasts at temperatures between 30 and 32°C. Maceration lasted 22 to 23 days for Sangiovese and 25 to 26 days for Merlot and Malvasia Nera. After alcoholic fermentation, the wines underwent malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels. The final blend was then aged for 12 months in second-fill barrels, allowing for harmonious integration of the components without excessive oak dominance.

Grape Varieties

• Sangiovese (80%)
• Merlot (13%)
• Malvasia Nera (7%)