Delicate aromas of raspberry jam and strawberry merge with fresh ground pepper and notes of tobacco. Flavors of dried cherry, plum and tea are wrapped around a solid core of angular tannins on the balanced finish.

Founded in 1972, Castello di Ama is one of Tuscany’s preeminent estates. Situated at 1,574 feet above sea level near Gaiole-in-Chianti, this 617 acre estate owns some of the finest vineyards in the appellation. Husband and wife Marco Pallanti and Lorenza Sebasti, who’ve owned the property since 1982, have successfully steered the estate through major renovations and improvements – a total replanting between 1982-1987, a dramatic increase in plant density to 2,800 per acre, the introduction of French varieties and new winemaking equipment. In 2003 Marco was named Oenologist of the Year by Vini d’Italia and the couple continues to build upon their reputation for crafting benchmark Chiantis. All the fruit at the estate is hand-picked. The wines of Castello di Ama are like their owners – elegant, refined and undeniably authentic.

Wine maker notes

Haiku 2009 is the result of blending between these three varieties: 50% is the Sangiovese and the rest has split between Cabernet Franc and Merlot. During the second part of the plant Montebuoni Vineyard began in 1997 and ended in 2001, it was decided to experiment a noble international variety, Cabernet Franc hitherto unused to Ama but, after a careful analysis of soil and climate, it was assumed could give good results. Were planted in 2001 numbered two small parcels in the land business with the numbers 84 (ha 1.47) and 85 (ha 0.47) for a total area of two acres with the clone 214, in Bordeaux appreciated for its ability to produce ”vins de garde ”on 110R rootstock.

Technical notes

Inspired by a form of Japanese poetry that consists of three short lines, Haiku is a blend of three varieties – 50% is Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Franc and 25% Merlot. The whole clusters are destemmed, and fermented in stainless steel tanks using native yeasts. The wine was aged for 12 months in barriques and another 12 months in bottle.

Producer

Founded in 1972, Castello di Ama sits 12 miles northeast of Siena in the hills of Gaiole. The property is owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Marco Pallanti and Lorenza Sebasti. Marco was a young viticulturalist who in a very few years had become one of the most highly respected winemakers in Tuscany. He began to experiment with non-traditional varieties such as Merlot, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, to enhance the concept of cru wines (introducing Vigneto Bellavista, Vigneto La Casuccia and L'Apparita) and to utilize small oak barrels. In 2003, he was crowned Oenologist of the Year by Vini d'Italia, published by Gambero Rosso and Slow Food. Over the past 30-40 years, he replanted all of the vineyards and upgraded all of the winemaking capabilities to make this one of Tuscany's showcase producers. 90 hectares are planted to vines at an average altitude of 480 meters with a southern exposure and clay-calcareous soils. The obsessive dedication to quality in both the vineyard and winery has made Castello di Ama not only one of Tuscany's greatest wine producers, but one of the finest wineries in the world.