“Vigneto Bellavista” Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Gaiole DOCG 2022

Castello di Ama | Tuscany
Castello di Ama s.r.l. s.a. | Loc. Ama | IT 53013 Gaiole in Chianti

09342522 · 0,75 l · 332,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping< 24 units available
Limitation of 2 articles per customer

In 1978, detailed soil studies at Castello di Ama identified a plot with exceptional potential: the Bellavista Valley, situated directly in front of the 18th-century Villa Pianigiani. Marco Pallanti, who joined the estate in 1982 and has been making this wine ever since, simply calls it "the paradigm and benchmark" for all of Ama's great wines. When Pallanti later chaired the Chianti Classico Consortium between 2006 and 2012, he himself helped to establish the Gran Selezione category – the classification that his own Bellavista now bears. The vineyard lies at altitudes of between 466 and 525 metres, covering 16.5 hectares, with an east to south-east aspect, on calcareous-clay soil with a significant proportion of slate.

80% Sangiovese and 20% Malvasia Nera – the latter lends the wine that floral, intriguing note which sets it apart from single-varietal wines. Both varieties ferment separately with natural yeasts in stainless-steel tanks at 30 to 33°C, with manual pumping over: 22 days' contact with the skins for the Sangiovese, 26 days for the Malvasia Nera. After the first racking, the wine is transferred to barriques for malolactic fermentation. It is only at the end of this second fermentation that the two varieties are blended; they then mature together for a further few months in barriques – 40% of which are new, the rest one-year-old – for a total of around fourteen months.

A brilliant ruby red of great concentration. The bouquet is beguiling and expansive: black cherry and blackberry, ground stone and graphite, dry earth, violets and lavender, along with cloves, new leather, menthol and sage. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, yet supported by pronounced, firm tannins that carry through to the finish – powerful, rich and possessing that rare depth which has made Ama the benchmark for over four decades. SUPERIORE.DE

"Deep, dark ruby red, glossy. A deep, dark nose with notes of plums, dried violets, damp earth, a hint of marzipan, barely perceptible alcohol, and hints of wet stone. On the palate, it is fruit-driven and brooding, with lovely salinity and plenty of intensity; it unfolds in several layers, with a long final returns to a salty final; it needs time to final, and is very powerful." Falstaff

"Ripe and juicy, this red reveals black cherry, blackberry, pomegranate, wild Tuscan herb and iron flavors. Dry, dusty tannins line the finish, yet there's ample fruit, so give this time. Fine length. Sangiovese and Malvasia Nera." Wine Spectator

"The Castello di Ama 2022 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto Bellavista represents, in my view, the top wine of the estate this year. The first vintage of the "Bellavista" selection was made in the early 1980s and vinified by winemaker Marco Pallanti, who joined the property in 1982. He has described this wine as the "paradigm and reference" of Castello d'Ama. This glorious vineyard dazzles under the sunlight over a slope as you approach the property entrance. In 1978, the estate carried out detailed soil studies, identifying specific parcels with outstanding potential and unique pedoclimatic characteristics. This is one of those sites. This wine shows beautiful richness with inky concentration that makes quite a statement. The seamless bouquet can be described as broad and large, but it is also quite beautiful. I would say it's more horizontal than vertical in character. It shows thick stratified layers of dark fruit, cherry and plum, ending with hints of sweet earth and spice. Bellavista is Sangiovese enhanced with Malvasia Nera." Wine Advocate

"Perfumed and mesmerizing, with aromas of black cherries, crushed stones, dried earth, violets and lavender, like Chianti Classico. Medium-bodied with racy tannins that run the length of the wine and continue on. Crunchy mouthfeel and lightly chewy tannins. Sangiovese and malvasia nera. A year or two more in the bottle will soften some of the edges, but it's already superb." James Suckling

"Pouring a deep purple hue, Bellavista shines from start to finish. From the black cherry and raspberry to dusty earth and truffle, with mocha and vanilla wafting demurely, aromas continue giving. On the floral-strewn palate, sumptuous and succulent dark fruit makes way for graphite-like crunchy minerals. The tannins are velvety smooth, and this is so perfectly sculpted, beautifully poised and elegantly weighted. As rich as it is weightless, it is also piercingly pristine and gracious in its sophistication. Hard to resist now but it promises to reveal more of its profundities with time. Given the recent changes to the Gran Selezione regulations, this iconic bottling will see a reproportioning of Sangiovese and Malvasia Nera. For this vintage though, its time-honoured 80/20 ratio remains unaltered." Decanter

"The 2022 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto Bellavista is a total stunner. An exotic mix of blackberry, graphite, cloves, new leather, menthol, sage and lavender stains the palate. Readers will find a Gran Selezione of uncommon depth and gravitas. Time in the glass further reveals the wine's profound complexity. Strong saline accents wrap up the finish. It's the wine of the vintage in Chianti Classico and the purest essence of Ama." Vinous