The 2001 Chianti Classico Vigneto Bellavista is huge and beautifully balanced. The Easter snow and very hot temperatures that year produced an opulent, super-ripe Bellavista with a distinct personality that stands apart from the rest of the wines in this tasting. Truffles, blackberry jam and camphor round out the sexy finish. It will be very interesting to see how the 2001 develops over the coming years. There is plenty of structure to support another decade or two of very fine drinking. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. This vertical of Castello di Ama’s flagship Chianti Classico Vigneto Bellavista was one of the more remarkable tastings I have ever had the privilege of participating in. From his very first vintage, 1982, Marco Pallanti was clearly onto something big. Readers still lucky enough to own that wine are in for a real treat. The single-vineyard Bellavista is 80% Sangiovese and 20% Malvasia Nera, a combination of indigenous grapes that works beautifully. The early vintages included a dollop of Canaiolo that was planted in the vineyard up until 1988, when it was ripped out in favor of the Merlot that would go on to produce L’Apparita. I also tasted the 2011 Bellavista in barrel, the first since 2007, and a year that it resembles from a stylistic standpoint. Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Bellavista Key Points: 1. 80% Sangiovese/20% Malvasia Nera aged in French oak barrels 2. Made from Ama’s Bellavista vineyard, a high-altitude plot in Castellina 3. A powerful, intense Chianti Classico 4. Aging potential: 20-30 years

Wonderful aromas of lilacs, berries and cherries follow through to a full-bodied palate, with silky tannins and a long, seductive finish. This has fabulous beauty and finesse. Yet it's powerful. Best after 2007. 750 cases made. -JS