Red Wine Castello di Ama Haiku 2017. The Castello di Ama estate has played a vital role in Italy’s wine history thanks to their groundbreaking work with the Merlot grape variety. Their magnificent L’Apparita wine was one of the first Italian Merlots to compete on the world stage at a blind tasting organised by the Académie du Vin in Switzerland. This pioneering wine beat both Pétrus and Le Pin, two of Bordeaux’s most prestigious wineries, firmly putting Castello di Ama in the spotlight as a new rival to the world’s very finest Merlot-based wines. Today the Castello di Ama estate boasts some 90 hectares of land set around a stunning 16th century mansion in the heart of Chianti Classico close to the town of Gaiole. In the 2000s the estate acquired the Montebuoni vineyard which they replanted with Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and Merlot which is the signature blend of their elegant Haiku cuvee. The wine is named after the traditional Japanese poem composed of three lines which skilfully combines simplicity, elegance and a powerful depth of meaning. To give the winemaker maximum control over the composition, each of the varieties is vinified separately and blended before being transferred to oak barrels where the finished wine is left to mature. This helps to fully integrate the different components, creating a stylish and polished red which exudes deep berry fruit, smoky oak, and delicate notes of dried herbs and dark chocolate on the long, powerful finish. A great wine to drink with barbecued meats, hearty stews and herby roast beef or lamb.
2017
Red Wine Castello di Ama Haiku 2017
Red Wine Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo 2017. Decant 1 hour before serving. Castello di Ama is known the world over for its majestic L’Apparita wine which can age for decades and helped set the benchmark for world-class Italian Merlot. The estate is located in the heart of Chianti Classico close to Gaiole on a property that dates back to the 16th century. In total they have some 90 hectares of vines which are planted at around 450 metres above sea level. This ensures warm sunny summer days and cooler nights which allow the grapes to mature slowly and fully. This charming Chianti Classico is crafted from the best grapes grown on the estate’s Bellavista, Casuccia, San Lorenzo and Montebuoni vineyards. The composition is dominated by Sangiovese along with a smaller amount of Merlot and Malvasia Nera to create a complex and well-rounded wine with superb poise and balance. Following vinification the young wine is aged in oak barrels for 12 months to add polish. Bright red cherry and plums define the nose while the first sip reveals a medium body, smooth texture and refined tannins. The finish is long and intense with vibrant red berry, dried herbs and hints of woodsmoke from the oak ageing.
2017
Red Wine Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Poggio 2017. Decant 1 hour before serving. Dating back to the mid-19th century, the historic Castello di Monsanto estate is tucked into the hills of the Val d’Elsa on the western side of the Chiant Classico appellation. The property’s modern history dates back to 1960 when it was purchased by Aldo Bianchi. Soon afterwards his visionary son, Fabrizio, introduced a number of pioneering changes to the region including the use of water-cooled fermentation tanks and replacing the traditional chestnut barrels with large Slavonian oak casks. In 2001 former Ornellaia winemaker Andrea Giovannini joined the talented winemaking team who focus on producing remarkable Chianti wines in a refreshing, elegant style. Il Poggio is their flagship wine and has occupied a special place in the estate’s history since it was the first wine to be produced by Fabrizio from the family’s stunning Il Poggio single vineyard in 1962. This majestic wine is almost entirely composed of Sangiovese along with a tiny quantity of Colorino and Canaiolo grapes. Only the finest quality fruit is selected from Il Poggio during the harvest with the grapes then fermented in temperature-controlled steel vats. After vinification the young wine is transferred to 500 litre French oak barrels for 18-20 months followed by another two years of ageing in the bottle. This long, slow winemaking process creates an incredibly complex, well-rounded wine with a firm structure and smooth tannins that will age beautifully in the cellar.
2017