Fattoria Selvapiana - Chianti Rufina Riserva - Vigneto Bucerchiale, 2015
During the Middle Ages, Selvapiana was a watchtower meant to protect the north-east border of Florence. During the Renaissance, the estate’s ownership alternated between local nobility and the bishops of Florence. In 1827, the Giuntini family purchased the estate and its surrounding territories.
Today, the sixth generation of winemakers, Federico and Silvia Giuntini, run Selvapiana. The property consists of 250 hectares (58 of which are planted with vines) spread over the communes of Rufina, Pontassieve and Pelago. The vineyards are on the foothills of the Apennines, just on the border between Tuscany and Emilia Romagna. Here the climate is colder than most Chianti Classico, with higher excursions between day and night temperatures. As a result, the grapes mature slowly, preserving high acidity and nuanced elegant flavours.
Bucerchiale is Selvapiana’s flagship wine. It’s a single vineyard wine, produced only in the best years. Made entirely from sangiovese, this wine is vinified as naturally as possible. Low addition of sulphites, slow maceration and the use of wild yeast. It’s matured in French oak (15% are new barrels) for 15 months before release.
The wine is light ruby in the glass, with medium intensity of colour. On the nose, its flavour intensity is pronounced, although a huge elegance is noticeable from the first whiff. The wine opens up beautifully with a mix of red and black fruit mingling with a dense thick layer of herbal spices and earthy nuances. From the fruit side, red and black cherry, succulent raspberry, blackberry and a touch of prunes. Then a pleasant savoury and earthy note comes through, mixed with a wonderful scent of mediterranean spices. Notes of laurel, liquorice, myrth, vivid balsamic herbs combine with hints of soy sauce. Delicately toasty around the edges, with undertones of old bark and an elegant earthiness laced with violet and lilies nuances. On the nose this wine overflows with class and a terrific aromatic breadth. A wine to sniff over and over again…
On the palate, the body is medium to full, harmonised by an impeccable high acidity that makes the wine alive and peppy. It’s really perfumed and aromatic all the way through, very refined. Ripe (but far from jammy!) red and black fruit notes swirl into an intense balsamic feeling. This alternates with savoury notes, turned wet soil, earth, liquorice, wild dried herbs and laurel. The tannins are medium to high, refined and smooth. Not a muscular structure, but rather gentle in nature. The aromas overall are focused and pronounced in intensity. The finish is long, smooth, with a savoury – almost saline – note that persists for a long time. This wine has huge class and refinement. It’s the definition of elegance. Outstanding.