'L'Apparita' Toscana IGT Castello di Ama 2020

L'Apparita needs no introduction. The first 100% Merlot produced in Tuscany, it immediately became (first vintage, 1985) a cult wine worldwide, honored in the various vintages with international awards and recognitions. This vintage, 2016 specifically, has recently received 100 POINTS from ANTONIO GALLONI, a world-renowned American journalist and wine critic (Italian origins). We know that to make a great wine you need great grapes and these exist and are grown on the top of the Bellavista Vineyard, at an altitude of 490 meters above sea level, where the L'Apparita vineyard opens up, a real Cru (as the French) for just under 4 hectares. The calcareous soil, particularly rich in clay, and the favorable exposure make this small agro a jewel of world enology. The agronomic part is maniacally followed and the harvest date was established after numerous samplings analyzed organoleptically in the vineyard and in the laboratory. The harvest took place strictly by hand, in 10/12 kg boxes (to preserve the integrity of the grapes) which are then passed onto a "sorting table" for further selection. Fermentation is induced by indigenous yeasts in steel tanks at a controlled temperature between 30° and 33°C, with manual pumping over and a total permanence (cuvaison) of 25 days. After racking, the wine is transferred to barriques to carry out the malolactic fermentation which traditionally gives more stability (for ageing) and also more roundness to the wine. Refinement: at the end of the malolactic fermentation, the wine is returned to fine-grained oak barriques, 50% new and "second passage" for the rest, for about 18 months. In the glass it has an intense and deep ruby color. The olfactory framework offers floral sensations of juniper, small ripe red fruits and sweet spicy hints. On the palate it is elegant, enveloping and fresh, with a persistent finish. Intensity and finesse, with truly long-term longevity prospects. A show!