Castello di Ama
La Casuccia 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
The La Casuccia vineyard covers 31.09 acres/12.58 hectares, 14.83 acres replanted in 1978 and the remainder replanted in 2007. The plot of 9 parcels of land was terraced to improve exposure and ensure more uniform ripening. In the best vintages, parcels 49, 46 and 45 contribute most to the limited production of this vineyard selection.
- Altitude: 1540-1625 feet/470–495 meters
- Exposure: North-East/South-West
- Soil: Clay-calcareousVine Training Systems: 19.87 acres/8.04h as vertical trellis, simple Guyot; 11.22 acres/4.54h as open lyre
- Clone Selection: Sangiovese CC2000 1, CC2000 2, CC2000 4, CC2000 5, Merlot 343 & 347, Rootstock 420
- Vine Planting Density: 5200 vines/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, 2022
- Fermented separately in stainless steel tanks with native yeast between 86-91ºF: 25 days for Sangiovese, 24 days Merlot
- Wines racked, transferred to barriques for malolactic fermentation
Blended before aging 12 months in 40% new, fine grained barriques, the balance in 2nd passage
Winemaker's Notes
Pure red ruby with purple glints. An intense, rich nose with tertiary notes and red fruits. The palate is opulent and powerful, balanced by delicate, well ripened tannins.
Wine Summary
80% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot; alcohol: 14.5%; estate La Casuccia vineyard at 1540-1625 feet feet in clay-calcareous soil; hand harvested from September 14 – October 4, 2022; varieties fermented separately using only indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks at 86–91°F; malolactic fermentation in barriques; blended and aged in 40% new, the balance once used barriques for 14 months.
Technical Information
- 80% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot
- Alcohol: 14.5%
- Total Acidity: 6.4 g/l
- Residual Sugar: > 1 g/l
- Extract: 32.1 g/l
Reviews
98 Points
The 2022 La Casuccia is a wine of mind-blowing elegance and finesse. Silky tannins, floral aromatics and bright, red-toned fruit make a strong first impression. Delicate and nuanced, with gorgeous mid-weight structure, the 2022 dazzles from the very first taste. The 2022 is quite possibly the most polished edition of the La Casuccia I have tasted. What a wine! 2028 – 2044
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.”
Readers will note the La Casuccia (Sangiovese, Merlot) is no longer a Gran Selezione because updated regulations forbid the use of international grapes in Gran Seleziones. It’s a touchy subject at this address, given that Marco Pallanti served as President of the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico from 2006 to 2012 and Ama’s track record for turning out superb wines over the last several decades. In protest, Ama has taken La Casuccia out of the Chianti Classico appellation entirely and placed it under the broader IGT designation. Perhaps there might have been an opportunity to ‘grandfather’ in wines with a proven historical pedigree like La Casuccia, which has been produced since 1985 and brought quite a bit of attention to Chianti Classico over that time. On the other hand, consistency in applying regulations is understandable, especially considering how complex Italian wine as a subject is to the public. Regardless, I doubt many consumers even know which appellations the most iconic wines fall under, as those wines built their reputations before current regulations were created.
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
96 Points
Showing dark concentration and depth, the Castello di Ama 2022 Chianti Classico La Casuccia feels ripe and plump. The bouquet is packed with blackberry preserves and baked plum. There are hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, and the wine offers a somewhat chewy, velvety texture. This is mostly Sangiovese with Merlot in a supporting role. La Casuccia is a wine of intensity, volume and power, and you certainly feel that in this vintage. La Casuccia complements the other cru expressions such as Bellavista by offering a little more texture and volume. 2025 – 2046
© Wine Advocate, October, 2025
95 Points
Ripe cherry, blackberry, pomegranate, earth and toasty oak flavors mingle in this solidly built red. Silky and expressive midpalate, showing youthful balance. Dense tannins leave a chalky feel on the finish. There’s fine potential. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2028 through 2048.
Wine Spectator, October, 2026
95 Points
Blackberry, blueberry, violet and sandalwood aromas. Medium-bodied with fine, firm, silky tannins that are long and intense. Racy and energetic. It shows focus and structure. Available in March 2026. Drink after 2027.
jamessuckling.com, July, 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 |