Jay Kline

9.2

Badia a Coltibuono is a producer with a history that goes back almost 1000 years. The first 750 years were determined by the monks of Vallombrosa. Then, in the early 1800s, Napoleon kicked the monks out and privatized the operations at the abbey. Descendants of the Stucchi Prinetti family took ownership about 30 years later and have been stewards ever since. The wines may not be the most exciting in Gaiole but they are beautifully authentic representations of their place and their history alone is worthy of note.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2019 Riserva pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes ripe and tart red and dark fruit: Morello cherry, mixed brambles, red flowers, black tea, green herbs, old wood, gravelly earth and subtle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where minerals are also on display. The finish is medium. Lovely. Drink now through 2039. — a month ago

Daniel Bloom

9.2

I decanted this for an hour.
N: Mulberries, Dense forest, Crushed blueberries.
P: Toe-Bacco! This is a big boy.It’s dense but the acidity is bright, rides the line between trad. & modern.
Sangiovese with small amount of Pugnitello done in barriques and tonneaux, med toast Allier.
Cherries are sneaky, dark and emerge w time out. From Gaiole in Chianti.
15° — 3 years ago

Enrico Nicoletta

9.3

Beautiful, elegant expression of Sangiovese from Gaiole in Chianti — 7 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.1

An estate bottled wine from gaiole in chianti — 11 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

“Montebuoni” Chianti Classico Riserva gets its name from the vineyard Castello di Ama cultivates in the western sector of the Gaiole UGA. Popped and poured; the 2019 “Montebuoni” CCR pours a bright ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of mostly ripe red fruits: Morello cherry, black tea, some leaf tobacco, new leather and soft vanilla baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and quite charming, if not a touch flashier than I’m typically attracted to. Lovely nonetheless. Drink now through 2034. — 4 months ago

Deborah M

9.3

2017 Castello di Ama L’Apparita was the wine that I pulled for the evening. Italian Merlot. Ama is an old, fortified village situated near Radda and Gaiole in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. On the nose, intense dark berries. A full bodied wine with layers of beautiful ripe fruit. Perfect balance. Stellar finish. Stunning. — a year ago

Sebastian Koncurat

9.1

Native yeast, estate farmed Sangiovese from the area of Gaiole in Chianti Classico . Dusty and herbal, almost vegetal with tart cherries and firm tannins that were gently polished by 8 months in solevenian oak. — 9 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over a three hour period. The 2010 Chianti Classico pours a deep ruby with a near opaque core; medium(+?) viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, developing and initially, slightly austere but an hour of air did wonders. Funky Montmorency cherry, pipe tobacco, red rope licorice, carnations, mushrooms, decomposing forest floor, leather, tomato leaf, cedar box, a bar of Irish Spring that has been drying out in my in-laws shower basement for years (super specific but IYKYK); there is a little bit of VA too…but this is Italy baby so what do you expect? On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with a bit of a high-grade Aceto Balsamico di Modena thing going too. The finish is super long, grippy and savory. A beautiful example from the southern part of Gaiole. This is entering its early drinking window and should be great for the next 10-15 years. — a year ago

Kamall

9.0

Savory and earthy, more to be revealed in time I would think. So young. From Istine’s vineyard in Gaiole. — 2 years ago

Jamie Lauder

9.4

2017 vintage.
50 % Sangiovese, 25 % Cabernet Franc, 25 % Merlot.
Castello di Ama is 12 miles north of Sienna in the hills of Gaiole in the heart of Chianti Classico. Tuscan Cabernet Franc and Merlot do not get the fanfare and accolades they deserve.
Bright cherry, underbrush and black currants on the nose.
Flavours of dark cherry, plum, mocha, walnuts and tobacco.
It finishes long with a freshness yet ripe fruit.
This bottle was gifted to me by Lorenza Sebasti when she came for dinner at our restaurant.
She and her husband own Castello di Ama winery. Lorenza is a lovely woman to spend an evening with enjoying good food, great wine and stimulating conversation.
— 3 years ago