Castello di Ama
Haiku Toscana IGT – 2022
Region: ITALY - TUSCANY
Castello di Ama
Castello di Ama was founded in 1976, and is located in Gaiole in Chianti, within the additional geographical unit of the same name (UGA), located in the heart of Tuscany. It is located about 12 miles northeast of Siena in the hills of Gaiole. This is the heart of Chianti Classico, a bucolic rolling landscape of woods, vineyards and olive groves.
The estate is currently helmed by CEO Lorenza Sebasti, a member of the second generation of one of the four founding families. Marco Pallanti, who was once the President of the Chianti Classico Consorzio, has been the winemaker and technical director at Castello di Ama since 1982.
The goal of the estate is to have each bottle of Castello di Ama express the uniqueness of the terroir, and be an authentic expression of the vintage. Ama has practiced sustainable viticulture since the end of the 1990s, and recently received Equalitas (Italy) certification.
The Wine
Vineyard Profile
Estate vineyards. During the planting of the second section of Montebuoni vineyard, completed in 2001, we decided to experiment with the renowned international variety, Cabernet Franc, which has never been used in Ama before. We carried out a careful analysis of the soil and the climate and realized that Cabernet Franc really would give good results. In 2001 we planted on two small plots, identified by the estate’s land register numbers 84 and 85, respectively of 1,47 ha and 0,47 ha, for a total surface of 2 hectares with the clone 214, – a popular variety in Bordeaux for its production of cellar able wines (“vins-de-garde”) grafted onto rootstock 110R.
- Altitude: 1375–1640 feet/420-500 meters
- Exposure: North-West/South-East
- Soil: Clay and limestone
- Clonal selections: Cabernet Franc 214, Merlot 181 & 343, Sangiovese CH21, CH22, CC2002, CC2004, rootstock 420A
- Vine Training Systems: Vertical trellis, single Guyot for Merlot and Cabernet Franc, spurred cordon for Sangiovese
- Planting Density: 5200 plants/ha
Harvest Notes
- Mild January – March, little rain in March
- May onward quite hot, with almost no precipitation through July
- Mid-August rains
- Merlot harvest September 12, Sangiovese September 20 – October 4, Cabernet Franc October 5, 2022
- Fermented using only indigenous yeasts at in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks from 86–91ºF, each variety separately
- Manual pumpovers
Fermentation for 25 days using only indigenous yeasts for Sangiovese, 25 days for Merlot, 24 for Cabernet Franc - Wines racked, back to stainless tanks for malolactic fermentation
- Wine blended and aged 12 months in 20% new, fine grained barriques
Winemaker's Notes
Deep purple-red with ruby highlights. Fruit of the forest aromas of black currants and raspberries and spicy notes of pepper, wild herbs and tobacco. Distinct flavors of each variety shine through, with elegance and fresh acidity to the silky finish.
Wine Summary
50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot; alcohol: 14.5%; altitude 1375–1640 feet ; soils calcareous with limestone; varieties fermented separately in stainless steel using only indigenous yeasts; cuvaison of 25 days for Sangiovese, 25 days for Merlot, 24 days for Cabernet Franc; malolactic fermentation in stainless steel, then blended and aged 12 months in 20% new oak barriques.
Technical Information
- 50% Sangiovese, 25% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc
- Alcohol: 14.5%
- Total Acidity: 6.2 g/l
- Residual Sugar: <1 g/l
- Extract: 34.2 g/l
Reviews
95 Points
Aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, black cherries and sandalwood. Medium-bodied with refined tannins that are polished and pretty giving. Long and persistent finish. Crunchy at the end. 50% sangivoese, 25% cabernet franc and 25% cabernet sauvignon.Available in March 2026. Drink on release.
jamessuckling.com, July, 2025
94 Points
Deep and pure, offering saturated flavors of blackberry, black cherry, dark plum, tar and iron. Though this is dense, its tannins are ripe and well-integrated. Ends with a cascade of dark fruit. Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best from 2027 through 2045.
Wine Spectator, October, 2026
95 Points
The 2022 Haiku, Ama’s blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, is terrific. Dark-toned fruit, new leather, incense, licorice, graphite and plum all race across the palate. Bright acids and beams of youthful tannin punctuate the finish. At any other estate, this would easily be the top wine, but here the Haiku suffers a bit next to the wines that are more singular. 2027 – 2038
This is a spectacular set of new releases from Castello di Ama. In recent years, Marco Pallanti has backed off extractions, started doing less saignée and reduced the impact of oak. The results are nothing short of breathtaking. Every wine in the range is stellar, and some are utterly profound. “We had a very hot summer in 2022, then rain in both August and September,” Pallanti explained. “The challenge was waiting for phenolic ripeness. Our harvest wrapped up during the first week of October, which is on the later side for us by today’s standards.” When it comes to what’s in the bottle, few do it better than Castello di Ama. There is simply no substitute for passion, ambition and hard work, qualities that have defined these wines since the 1980s.
Vinous - Antonio Galloni, July, 2025
95 Points
This is a 50-25-25 blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Franc that represents the modern and creative side of the estate portfolio. The Castello di Ama 2022 Haiku reveals concentration, a deep color and pretty complexity, as you are able to identify little elements of each of the three grapes used. It shows seamless integration and good intensity. The name Haiku is inspired by Japanese verse and represents three elements (or three grapes) that work together in harmony. It is the so-called “alter ego” wine that plays a role across from the estate’s classical Sangiovese-based wines. 2025 – 2040
© Wine Advocate, October, 2025
General Info
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Tuscany |
| Appellation(s) | Chianti Classico |
| Proprietor/CEO | Lorenza Sebasti |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Winemaker | Marco Pallanti |
| Annual Production | 25,000 9L cases |
| Farming (Sustainable, organic, biodynamic) | Sustainable certified by Equalitas Italy |