Castello di Ama - Looking Back at the 2006s

BY ANTONIO GALLONI |&nbsp;MAY 20, 2024I vividly remember the first time I truly fell in love with
Castello di Ama wines. It was 2009. After we had gone through the releases,
Lorenza Sebasti and Marco Pallanti opened a few older wines. It was at that
moment that I started to understand how well these wines can age. In the years
that followed, I had the good fortune to report on several verticals.

Sebasti and Pallanti surprised me with the 2006s on my most
recent visit. Pallanti describes 2006 as a relatively cool year compared to
2020, which we tasted just prior. “Spring was quite fresh, so the vines got off
to a late start,” Pallanti explained. “Summer turned very hot, but rains in
August helped re-establish balance in the vineyard.” I could not help thinking
how much the definition of what constitutes cool and hot seasons has evolved
over the last fifteen years. When these wines were made, 2006 was considered a
hot year, but today, it would be thought of as a cool vintage.<img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.vinous.com/uploads%2F1716212668951-CF_May202024.jpg">As for the wines, they have aged so gracefully. The 2006s
here are potent, structured reds for the cellar. This was an impressive showing
all around. 

The 2006 Chianti Classico Castello di Ama is just
starting to show the first signs of aromatic maturity. Even so, it remains
quite youthful. Scents of sweet tobacco, leather, licorice, cured meats and
dried herbs are so suggestive. I expect the 2006 will continue to drink well
for another decade, maybe more, given its depth. The blend is 80% Sangiovese
and 20% Malvasia Nera, Merlot and Canaiolo. 92/Drink 2024-2036.

Explosive and potent, the 2006 Chianti Classico Vigneto
La Casuccia certainly makes an impression. At nearly twenty years of age,
it remains vibrant and even a bit austere. Red cherry/plum fruit, blood orange,
spice and tobacco lend nuance, but I am most drawn to the wine's energy. The
2006 is showing so well today. 96/Drink 2024-2036.

The 2006
Chianti Classico Vigneto Bellavista is magnificent. Graphite,
juniper berries, savory herbs and tobacco give this dark, somber Chianti
Classico tons of character. The blend of 85% Sangiovese and 15% Malvasia Nera
is so compelling. Although it is nearly twenty years old, the 2006 remains so
youthful. Today, it is utterly captivating and still improving. 97/Drink
2024-2036.

The 2006 L'Apparita is 100% Merlot, but in this
vintage, it tastes more like a wine from Castello di Ama than anything else.
Dark, intensely savory and super-expressive, the 2006 is a towering, statuesque
wine. It is also incredibly young and full of life. Readers still cellaring it
are in for a real treat. 98/Drink 2024-2036.© 2024, Vinous. No portion of this article may be copied, shared or re-distributed without prior consent from Vinous. Doing so is not only a violation of our copyright, but also threatens the survival of independent wine criticism.

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