2008 Chianti Classico Riserva
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Tasting notes
The 2008 Chianti Classico Riserva from Castello di Ama comes as a rare sets of magnums, shipped directly from the winery in pristine condition.We tasted a bottle last week and were so impressed by its freshness, whilst the tannins have beautifully melted into the wine with complex savoury tones, contrasting with the primary black cherry fruit. With Marco Pallanti, one of Italy's most celebrated winemakers, at the helm, Castello di Ama's philosophy since its inception has been to produce Italian wines of elegance, finesse and heightened fruit clarity. The estate steers away from more traditional rusticity in favour of low yields and strict selection. This means the grapes are rigorously sorted, gently extracted and then aged in 100% French Oak barrique. The Riserva is a very rare cuvee in the Castello di Ama line-up. Made only in specific vintages, it combines all the top single vineyards together in one wine. Since its production the wine has been aged in perfect cellar conditions at the estate. The 2008 Chianti Classico Riserva Castello di Ama is drinking beautifully right now. The nose is both savoury and perfumed, revealing layer upon layer of dried flowers (roses and violets), herbs (thyme, rosemary, lavender), cloves, smoked meat, truffle, fresh cigar tobacco, crushed rocks, rosehip and bergamot tea. The savoury, herbal, meaty aromas give with to oodles of fresh, succulent fruit coming to the fore. The palate is absolutely seductive – pure silk, the tannins entirely melted away with just the memory of stylish wood tannins on the finish. Perfectly harmonious and showing how elegantly Sangiovese can age when handled by winemakers of this world class calibre.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
A Chianti Classico with dark-berry, walnut and balsamic character, following through to a medium body with mushroom and bark. Drying slightly at the finish. But typical for an aged wine from this region. Needs drinking.
A complex bouquet of smoky cherry, plum, iron, leather and spice is enticing, while the supple texture is laden with fading fruit, spice, sanguine and tobacco flavors. Lively and long, it firms up on the finish, where the fruit and savory elements converge. Drink now through 2033.
Picked 13-15 October, 12 months in barrel, of which 20% new, before bottling in May 2010. Medium-intense dark ruby. Complex, well-knit nose that is obviously less ripe than the 2007 but is very pleasing. Elegant, delicate fragrance. Very glorious for current drinking. Dances on the palate with a very dry finish. Racy and ethereal with the savour of Sangiovese. Super-appetising. (JR)
About the producer
Castello di Ama is one of the pre-eminent estates in Chianti Classico. Situated in the southern-most district of the appellation, the estate has only been making wine since the late 1970s but has since built a reputation as one of the region’s best.