Selvapiana 'Bucerchiale' Chianti Rufina Riserva 2019

We first tasted this wine as the most youthful bottle on show at a celebration of it's 40th anniversary. Federico Giuntini of Selvapiana was in town to host a vertical tasting back to 1979 and proudly presented 2019 as one of the most classic vintages since Bucerchiale's inception. The first vintage handled entirely by Federico's son, Niccolò, the wine has cracking energy, freshness and purity of fruit - think cherry and cranberries over a deeper, darker core with violets and spice. Sangiovese's classic acidity and tannin are on show but both are beautifully in harmony. There is less barrique used here than in previous years and the wine is forward, drinking remarkably well in it's youth but will clearly continue to improve for years to come. Astonishingly good value for serious Chianti, though it's worth putting in writing that this wine is very Rufina in style and has a very different feel and objective than from those further south in the Chianti/Chianti Classico region. 

The Rufina zone is the smallest in Chianti (about 600 hectares of vineyard) but also one of the most special. The cool breeze that blows down the Sieve Valley gives the best wines a finesse and definition that few in Chianti Classico can match, and there is no better producer in Rufina than Selvapiana, which has been in the family of Francesco Giuntini since 1827.

Federico Giuntini Masseti now runs the property, which is situated just north of the town of Pontassieve. The estate covers 250 hectares, 60 of which are planted under vine (95% being Sangiovese), 36 are olive groves, and the rest is covered by woods. For the most part, the vineyards face west, though Selvapiana’s prized Bucerchiale vineyard is south-west facing.