1988 Chianti Classico Bellavista Gran Selezione

The 1988 Chianti Classico Vigneto Bellavista comes across as an updated version of the 1982. It is slightly richer and more powerful (also owing to the use of French barrels) than the 1982, but stylistically it is quite similar. Dark red cherries, flowers, licorice and spices flow through to the effortless, gracious finish. This is a striking wine. Wow. As great as the 1988 is today, this is also a slightly linear vintage. The wine is firing on all cylinders today, but I am not sure it will improve meaningfully from here. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. 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