Chianti Rufina DOCG 2021

Winery Fattoria Selvapiana has been owned by the Giuntini family since 1827 and is considered one of the best Chianti wineries in Rufin. The smaller area of ​​the Chianti district is located northeast of Florence. The winery owns 25 hectares of vineyards, which mainly cultivate Sangiovese grapes. The widest range of Chianti is created here, from Chianti Rufina to Vigneto Bucerchiale, all from the same vineyard. In recent years, the winery has reached the highest level of quality thanks to the efforts of the owner Francesco Giuntini, winemaker Federico Masseti and oenologist Franco Bernabei.

Canaiolo makes for elegant and juicy red wine with elegant aromatics and gentle tannins. It blends exceptionally well with Sangiovese and it can underline herbaceous flavors found in the blend.

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.  

The hilly terrain and warm climate make Tuscany an ideal region for winemaking. It ranks third by the amount DOC and DOCG category wines after Piemonte and Veneto. Currently the most popular variety is the noble Sangiovese - it is extremely thermophilic and successfully reveals its best traits in warm climates. Wines have a lovely structure, velvety tannins and a fruity aroma, the color is rich ruby red, but the most distinguishable flavor notes are cherries, raspberries and spices.