Selvapiana, Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina
Vintage: 2017
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | SE404F17 | 6 x 50 | Natural Cork | Available |
Producer
Rufina is the smallest of Chianti’s subzones, comprising only 600 hectares of vineyards, yet it is also one of the most special. Here, the cool breeze that blows down the Sieve Valley creates exceptional wines with a finesse and definition that few others in Chianti Classico can match. 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 just north of the town of Pontassieve. The estate comprises 250 hectares, 60 of which are planted under vine (95% Sangiovese) 36 are olive groves, while woodland covers the rest. Most of the vineyards are west facing, though Selvapiana’s prized Bucerchiale vineyard faces south-west.
The Chianti Rufina is fine and elegant, perfectly exemplifying the Selvapiana style. Federico considers the ‘Vigneto Bucerchiale’ a more weighty and powerful expression of Rufina, though it still displays the vibrancy of fruit that characterises the Selvapiana wines. The ‘Vigneto Erchi’ hails from a six-hectare, south-facing vineyard that Selvapiana purchased in 1998 and replanted in 1999. This beautiful site is on the slightly warmer western side of the Rufina denomination. The resulting single-vineyard wine is made from only the finest grapes and offers serious power balanced by delicate finesse.
Vineyards
The grapes are grown in a two-hectare vineyard situated in Chianti Rufina, north east of Florence. The vineyard faces north-east and is situated 200 metres above sea level. The vines are approximately 15-years-old and are planted at a density of 3,200 per hectare.
Vintage
Winter brought favourable conditions, with limited rainfall and slightly below-average temperatures that helped reduce insect pressure on the vines. Spring saw early budburst, and frosts affecting other Italian regions did not impact the vegetation here. Summer was marked by sunny days and constant coastal breezes, while early July brought relatively high humidity for the area. The first significant rainfall arrived in mid-September, followed by warm, bright days, creating ideal conditions for a healthy harvest.
Vinification
The grapes are hung to dry in the cellar before being pressed. The must is then racked into caratelli - small oak and chestnut barrels ranging from 50 to 200 litres - which are sealed with concrete. Fermentation and ageing take place in these vessels for seven years with no intervention. Selvapiana does not use a ‘madre’ (starter culture of yeast lees); fermentation begins with the grapes’ wild yeasts. At the end of the ageing period, the wine represents only 18–20% of the initial yield.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
Deep amber in colour with perfumes of dried fruits on the nose. This wine is intense, rich and luscious. The sweetness is balanced by good acidity and concentration, ensuring a long, fresh finish.
Alcohol (ABV)
13%
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selvapiana | Chianti Rufina | SE401 | R | ||
| `Vigneto Bucerchiale` Chianti Rufina Riserva | SE403 | R | |||
| `Vigneto Erchi` Chianti Rufina | SE408 | R | |||
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | SE450 | OO | Factsheet |