CASTELLO DI AMA 

Winemaker Marco Pallanti has farmed this estate in Chianti Classico since 1982, and he knows its vineyards well, producing acclaimed single-vineyard wines with the help of wife and co-owner Lorenza. San Lorenzo is a small valley, with 50 acres of vines planted in a mix of limestone and clay at an elevation of 1,650 feet. The 2010 is 80 percent Sangiovese, with Malvasia Nera and Merlot. A racy, vibrant red that shows the elegance of the site, it is the top-scoring Chianti Classico tasted this year.