Castello di Ama

From the highest point of the plot, the tower of Siena's Palazzo Pubblico appears on the horizon – a sight that gave this vineyard its name: L'Apparita. A poetic coincidence of the landscape became the name of a wine that made its debut in 1985 as Tuscany's first single-varietal Merlot. The story begins with Marco Pallanti, who arrived in Ama in 1982 and spent his early years working alongside Patrick Léon, then chief oenologist at Château Mouton Rothschild. This encounter shaped Pallanti's entire career – a passion for French precision, applied to the Tuscan terroir. Between 1982 and 1985, he planted Merlot clone 342 on two plots at the top of the Bellavista vineyard, just under three hectares, at an altitude of 501 metres, with the rows running north-south and trained in the open lyre style. The soil is predominantly clay with a limestone component – a combination that lends the wine freshness and elegance. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel and barriques, half in new oak and half in second-use barrels, over a period of 15 months.

The Gran Selezione from the single vineyard Bellavista is rich and dark with aromas of wild cherry, smoke, liquorice, menthol and tobacco. Extremely attractive and rich on the palate, firm tannins form the backbone of this virile, potent wine. SUPERIORE.DE

This wine from the single vineyard of the same name is probably the most opulent of the house's selection line. On the nose, an almost brushstroke-wide presence of ripe fruit, spices and hints of crushed rock. On the palate, impressive suppleness, complexity and richness, plus a whole bouquet of dark fruit flavours flanked by firm, structured tannin. The Merlot content gives it additional depth and power. SUPERIORE.DE

The Gran Selezione from the single vineyard Bellavista is rich and dark with aromas of wild cherry, smoke, liquorice, menthol and tobacco. Extremely attractive and rich on the palate, firm tannins form the backbone of this virile, potent wine. SUPERIORE.DE