Chianti Rufina DOCG 2021

Vīndarītava Fattoria Selvapiana, kas Džuntīni ģimenei (Giuntini) pieder kopš 1827. gada, tiek uzskatīta par vienu no labākajiem Chianti ražotājiem Rufīnā. Tā ir pati mazākā no Chianti apgabala zonām un atrodas uz ziemeļaustrumiem no Florences. Vīndarītavai pieder 25 hektāri vīnadārzu, kas lielākoties apstādīti ar Sangiovese šķirnes vīnogām. Te top visplašākais Chianti spektrs, no Chianti Rufina līdz Vigneto Bucerchiale, no viena vīnadārza ražas darītam Chianti riserva. Pēdējos gados vīndarītava sasniegusi visaugstāko kvalitātes līmeni ‒ pateicoties īpašnieka Frančesko Džuntīni (Francesco Giuntini), vīndara Federiko Maseti (Federico Masseti) un enologa Franko Bernabei (Franco Bernabei) pūliņiem.

Chianti Rufina is the most famous of the seven subzones that fall under Italy's iconic Chianti DOCG. The area, in the hills to the east of Florence, has a more continental climate and higher altitude that makes a Sangiovese-based wine in possession of good tannins and acidity: closer in style to the prestigious Chianti Classico DOCG than its contemporaries.   Both altitude and distance from the coast play big parts in the terroir here. The vineyards rise up as high as 500m above sea level, much higher than the average altitude of 300m in Chianti Classico.   At this elevation, the vineyards have a more pronounced diurnal temperature variation, with evenings cooled by mountain winds. This is compounded by Rufina's distance from the Mediterranean coast – it is easily Chianti's most continental subzone.   Limestone-based rocky soils can be found throughout the Rufina zone, with a healthy proportion of clay that adds to the quality of the region's terroir. The water-retention properties of clay mean that drought is rarely a concern, and plenty of rainfall in winter provides some hydration for the summer months.   Like Chianti Classico, which was part of the same set until it was awarded its own DOCG in 1996, Chianti Rufina is held in high esteem. It may lack the power and body that a Classico offers, yet is highly regarded for its exceptional character: it is fruity, elegant, well structured and worthy of aging.   Like all Chianti, it must comprise at least 70 percent Sangiovese, with the remainder made up of any proportion of Canaiolo, Colorino, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Cabernet Franc are limited to no more than 15 percent of any blend.   Despite calls for a separate DOCG for Chianti Rufina, it remains a subzone of the Chianti DOCG. Winemakers are quick to append the Rufina name to their Chianti wines as it carries some weight – certainly more so than many of the other Chianti DOCG subzones.  

Kalnainais reljefs un siltais klimats padara Toskānu par ideālu reģionu vīnadarināšanai. Tas ir trešajā vietā pēc DOC un DOCG kategorijas vīnu daudzuma pēc Piemontas un Veneto. Pašlaik vispopulārākā vīnogu šķirne ir cēlā Sangiovese - tā ir ārkārtīgi termofīla un veiksmīgi atklāj savas labākās iezīmes siltā klimatā. Vīniem ir jauka struktūra, samtaini tanīni un augļu aromāts, krāsa ir bagātīgi rubīnsarkana, bet visizcilākās garšas notis ir ķirši, avenes un garšvielas.