In 1997, we purchased and replanted the 14.50-hectare Montebuoni vineyards—a beautiful estate bordering the Bellavista vineyard. From the moment of planting, the vineyard has been managed according to a protocol based on the three pillars of sustainability: economic, environmental, and social.
The 2018 vintage marked the debut of Castello di Ama Montebuoni, an exclusive Chianti Classico. It is crafted from grapes grown in the eponymous vineyard, blended with additional estate-grown Sangiovese, and meets the high-quality standards characteristic of all Castello di Ama wines.
CLIMATE
The 2018 wines are fruit-forward, thanks to significant day-night temperature fluctuations in the autumn that fostered aroma development; they offer excellent freshness and satisfying alcohol levels. Their polyphenolic profile deserves special mention: these are wines of true pedigree—elegant, powerful, and full-bodied. In short, exactly the kind of wines we have always loved. Following extensive sampling and organoleptic analysis in both the vineyard and the laboratory, the harvest was carried out by hand using 10–12 kg crates, beginning on August 29 and concluding on October 15.
VINIFICATION
The must was vinified in stainless steel tanks using indigenous yeasts. Careful control of fermentation temperatures—which never exceeded 28–30°C—combined with frequent manual pump-overs, endowed the wine with a beautiful ruby ??color and distinctive varietal aromas reflecting the local terroir. Skin-contact maceration lasted approximately 24 days, after which indigenous bacteria carried out the conversion of malic acid.
AGING
Once malolactic fermentation was complete, the wine was transferred to second-fill French oak barriques—meaning no new wood was used. Aging continued for about 12 months, after which the wine was bottled in late spring 2020.