What is this wine?
Castello di Ama’s L’Apparita 2020 is one of Italy’s most iconic and collectible Merlots, produced from a small, high-altitude vineyard in the heart of Chianti Classico. The Apparita vineyard, planted in the early 1980s on clay-rich soils above the village of Gaiole, was the first in Tuscany to be dedicated entirely to Merlot. The grapes are hand-harvested, fermented in stainless steel, and aged in new French oak barriques for about 14 months, resulting in a wine of depth, elegance, and unmistakable personality.
Why get this wine?
Often referred to as “Tuscany’s Pétrus,” L’Apparita represents the pinnacle of Italian Merlot—silky, structured, and intensely aromatic. The 2020 vintage, shaped by warm days and cool nights, produced a wine of remarkable balance and precision, with vibrant fruit and refined tannins. For collectors, this is a blue-chip Tuscan icon, consistently ranked among the world’s greatest reds.
What does this wine taste like?
Velvety and complex, with aromas of black cherry, plum, violet, and graphite. The palate is full-bodied yet graceful, showing layered dark fruit, fine-grained tannins, and hints of cocoa and spice. The finish is long, elegant, and mineral.
When should you drink this wine?
Best from 2026–2045. Decant for two hours if drinking young to reveal its full aromatic complexity. Perfect with roast lamb, filet mignon, or aged Pecorino.
