Castello di Ama, L'Apparita, 2021
Castello di Ama, L'Apparita, 2021
- 75cl
- 14.5%
- Red Still
- Merlot
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Optimal drinking window: 2027 - 2046
Est. delivery in winter 2026
Lorenza and Marco Pallanti of Castello di Ama have been making wines in Tuscany since the 1970’s situated around the hamlet of Alma, which perches at 450-550 metres above sea level. Regarded for their elegance and freshness, allied to their natural intensity and depth, Castello di Alma has, as Galloni states, “crafted some of the most riveting wines in Tuscany... simply put, there are few estates in Italy at this level.”
Decades ahead of their time, they installed temperature-controlled vats, allowing for plot-by-plot vinification. If you want an idea of just how far ahead, most of the Bordelais have only just completed their own such renovations! Pioneers in not only in their winemaking technique, though also with what they planted. The core Chianti Classico is comprised only of traditional grapes, though the remainder of the range incorporates Bordeaux varieties to some extent, with their famed l’Apparita being the first 100% Merlot wine made in Tuscany.
What the critics say:
"The 2021 L'Apparita is sublime. A wine of compelling inner perfume and exotic richness, the 2021 is shaping up to be one of the great L'Apparitas. Inky dark fruit, espresso, licorice, lavender and crushed rocks abound in a towering, statuesque wine that will absolutely thrill those lucky enough to own it. It perfectly embodies all the greatest qualities of this historic vintage."
L'Apparita comes from a single 6.5-hectare vineyard planted on the galestro and alberese soils typical of Chianti Classico's finest sites. The vineyard sits at 450-500 metres elevation in the commune of Gaiole, where the combination of limestone-rich alberese and crumbly galestro clay provides excellent drainage while retaining enough moisture for the vines. The altitude and exposure create significant diurnal temperature variation, preserving acidity while allowing full phenolic ripeness. These ancient marine soils, formed millions of years ago when this area was under the sea, impart a distinctive mineral character that distinguishes L'Apparita from Merlots grown elsewhere.
While L'Apparita carries the broader Toscana IGT designation rather than Chianti Classico DOCG, it comes from vineyards within the Chianti Classico zone in Gaiole in Chianti. The IGT classification allows Castello di Ama the freedom to make a pure Merlot, whereas Chianti Classico regulations require Sangiovese as the dominant variety. This flexibility has enabled the estate to create one of Tuscany's most distinctive single-variety expressions. The Gaiole subzone is known for producing some of Chianti Classico's most structured and age-worthy wines, with its higher elevations and cooler temperatures compared to the more southern areas of the denomination.
Tuscany's 2021 growing season began with a soggy spring that had growers muttering into their espressos, followed by a summer that swung between scorching heat and welcome August rains. The real drama came at harvest time when many producers had to pick fast and choose wisely, dancing around September downpours that separated the meticulous from the merely hopeful. Those who waited too long paid the price, but the estates that timed it right caught fruit with lovely ripeness and crucially intact acidity.
What emerged feels like Tuscany with its shirt sleeves rolled up — wines that are more approachable and less brooding than the powerhouse vintages we've grown used to. The Sangiovese shows bright red fruit and genuine charm rather than the dense, muscular character of recent years, whilst the international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot retained surprising freshness despite the heat. We're finding these wines drink beautifully now with a few years of bottle age, though the best Chiantis and Super Tuscans will happily cellar for another decade if you can resist them that long.
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