L'Apparita Toscana IGT Castello Di Ama with Case
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GRADATION 13%
VINTAGE 2017
VITIGNO Merlot
DENOMINATION Toscana IGT
AREA OF PRODUCTION Gaiole in Chianti (SI)
PAIRING Meat, Cheese, Pasta
It is not easy to look for a definition for this pure Merlot, we could simply use the superlative of any adjective but that would be beyond reductive. Apparita is as good as one can expect from a wine: splendid, refined and complex, it is a wine that seduces the palate of anyone who tastes it. An outlier that completely dominates terroir, an archetype of elegance and personality in perfect Bordeaux style. There is only one problem, having enough patience to wait at least a decade to drink it, but it is so good right away that we can overlook this small detail. Fun fact: The vineyard is called L'Apparita because at its summit, in the distance, 'appears' the tower of Siena's Palazzo Comunale.
Dark and impenetrable ruby, it strikes the nose for the overbearingness with which it expresses itself: jammy berries and dried flowers, chocolate, rhubarb, clove and nutmeg on a balsamic and mineral background. The palate reveals impeccable balance, thanks to the velvety tannic texture and the masterfully played acid-savory support. Endless persistence where the fruity and balsamic notes return, deep.
A perfect companion to dishes based on free-range game, roasted and braised meats and aged cheeses such as pecorino di fossa.
The Winery
Among the first to have introduced the cru concept in Italy, among the first to have used barrique during maturation or new planting techniques in the vineyard. This, and more, is Castello di Ama, a revolutionary winery from the hills of the village of the same name, 500 meters above sea level, in the historic heart of Chianti. The winery was founded in the 1970s by the family of Lorenza Sebasti and Marco Pallanti, who bought the Bellavista vineyard in 1978, the San Lorenzo vineyard in 1982, the La Casuccia vineyard in 1985 and the Bertinga vineyard in 1988, names inspired by traditions or surrounding villages, for a total of 80 hectares under vine characterized by soils of different nature and exposure to each other. A significant date in the history of Castello di Ama is 1991, the year when in Switzerland, at the Académie du Vin in Zurich:, during a blind tasting dedicated to Merlots from around the world, Castello di Ama's L'Apparita 1987 was the one that routed all the French wines. It was the forerunner to a decade of successes that saw Marco Pallanti himself being appointed ambassador of Chianti Classico, serving two terms as president of the Consortium, and in 2005, the winery was declared the Best of the Year. All this declined in a range of labels of sublime quality, recognized throughout the world, ranging from "Apparita," the award-winning Merlot in purity of undisputed charm and elegance, to Chianti Classico Gran Selezione "San Lorenzo," a red wine of great stuff that challenges all the greatest Sangiovese-based wines, passing through the Chardonnay di Toscana Igt " Al Poggio," from selected clones of Chardonnay rooted cuttings originating in Burgundy.