2008 Chianti Classico Riserva

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.