A noble grape it is. (Courtesy Social Vignerons)
Chianti Rufina has been on my mind lately, and while I can’t travel to Italy at the moment, I can drink some wine from the small subregion, which accounts for around 4 percent of Chianti DOCG production. I have been sampling wines from Fattoria Selvapiana, a solid producer whose properties include the famed Bucerchiale vineyard. In short, I loved what I tasted. Sense of place is strong with these wines, and the acidity is outstanding.
The 2013 Vigneto Bucerchiale is 100 percent Sangiovese, and is young, not fully formed, could easily benefit from at least another five years in the bottle (and eight would not be a bad thing at all). The vines from which it was produced vary in age (the oldest were planted in 1968, the youngest in 1992). This wine is bottled only in the best vintages (they skipped 1980, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2005, 2008, to name a few recent omissions). Look for this (but know that there is not a lot out there) for around $30, and drink by 2026.
In addition to the Bucerchiale, the 2014 Chianti Rufina was at the table, and for $17 you cannot go wrong with this wine. It’s 95 percent Sangiovese (Chianti Rufina must be at least 75 percent Sangiovese) and 5 percent Canaiolo Colorino and Malvasia Nera. If you are seeking the perfect pairing for your favorite pasta dish, this is it.
Read more here about these wines from Selvapiana, and about a Prosecco and Sauvignon Blanc that I recently tasted — and that cake and those cheese straws — by clicking here.
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