2018 Fattoria Selvapiana, Chianti Rufina Riserva DOCG “Vigneto Burcerchiale” Tuscany, Italy.
Notably livelier and more elegant, while not missed a beat or depth this dark garnet and ruby edged 2018 vintage of Bucerchiale Riserva from Selvapiana, an aromatic 100% Sangiovese, delivers everything the prior two outstanding releases did and in a stylish and graceful fashion with dark fruits, fresh acidity, subtle oak and interesting savory elements.The Chianti Rufina Riserva Vigneto Bucerchiale sees a spontaneous native yeast fermentation and a 30 day maceration period with manual punch-downs and pump-overs to extract color, flavor and its backbone of tannin. Once primary fermentation is finished in tank the Vigneto Bucerchiale is racked to barriques for close to 15 months, mostly used oak with just about 10% new wood used, which adds a subtle touch of sweet toast and gives this wine its sense of purity. Layers of blackberry, currant, plum and strawberry fruits lead the way with cigar wrapper, spicy cedar box, minty herb, coco powder, anise and dried rose petals all providing complex accents to this youthfully taut and nicely structured wine. Not as fruit dense as the 2017, but every bit as expressive and delicious this vinous Sangiovese is an excellent food wine, with richer dishes benefiting from this wine’s brilliance. I must say, Selvapiana is really on a roll these days and there is quality throughout the collection, even though I am pretty smitten with this Bucerchiale Chianti Rufina Riserva.
The highly regarded Fattoria Selvapiana, as mentioned in my prior review, is located in Chianti Rufina, in the foothills of the Apennines and close to Florence was among the first Tuscan producers to make the Riserva made only from 100% Sangiovese and to produce their flagship wine from a single vineyard, which is Selvapiana’s Vigneto Bucerchiale, which was debuted back in 1979 and continues to be a benchmark wine from this region, as this latest 2018 continues that run of form, that makes it so desirable for Sangiovese enthusiasts. Rufina, with its closeness to the mountains strongly influences the micro-climate here, has cooler summers and a big change in temperature between day and night, that climate and terror all makes these wines at Selvapiana elegantly balanced, concentrated and age worthy. Certainly, one of the wines of the region, Fattoria Selvapiana, has recently impressed me and it is a good time to try these wines, if you’ve not had them, especially this Chianti Rufina Riserva Vigneto Bucerchiale. I first discovered Selvapiana when I tried their amazing Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina, one of Tuscany’s most prized treats and wondrous with biscotti and or cheese plates, but now I am a huge fan of the reds here too. As mentioned before, Fattoria Selvapiana doesn’t make this bottling every year, so it only sees the best grapes, in the best vintages, and makes for a rewarding treat when it is available, I highly recommend chasing it down and make sure you get a few bottles, putting a few away would be a great idea, though after trying it, patience might be hard, though it should get even better and more rewarding with a few more years in bottle!
($39 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive