Selvapiana, Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina
Vintage: 2018
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | SE404F18 | 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 under vine (95% Sangiovese), 36 hectares are dedicated to 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 Trebbiano grapes are grown in a two-hectare vineyard in Chianti Rufina, north east of Florence. The vineyard faces north-east and is situated at 200 metres above sea level. The vines are approximately 18-years-old and are planted at a density of 3,200 vines per hectare.
Vintage
2018 began with temperatures higher than the seasonal average which led to an early bud break in the months of March and April, followed by a fairly rainy May. From June the temperatures started to rise again. Summer had average temperatures with scattered rains. The month of September was characterised by sunny days with a marked diurnal temperature variation, which allowed the grapes to achieve a perfect levels of phenolic and aromatic ripeness.
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. Fermentation and ageing for seven years take place in these vessels with no intervention. Selvapiana does not use a ‘madre’ (starter culture of yeast), fermentation begins with the grapes’ indigenous yeasts. At the end of the ageing period, the resulting wine is usually 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 | Factsheet | |
| `Vigneto Bucerchiale` Chianti Rufina Riserva | SE403 | R | Factsheet | ||
| `Vigneto Erchi` Chianti Rufina | SE408 | R | Factsheet | ||
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | SE450 | OO | Factsheet |