Karen MacNeil presented Selvapiana Bucerchiale Chianti Rufina Riserva 2016 as “Wine to Know” in her newsletter for subscribers to WineSpeed and on her website. Karen tasted and revisited her favorite Chianti wines this spring while writing the third edition of the Wine Bible   Selvapiana “Vigneto Bucerchiale” Chianti Rufina Riserva 2016 (Tuscany, Italy) Selvapiana makes a terrific basic Chianti, but the estate’s flagship wine from its top vineyard (Bucerchiale) is a  wine you definitely should not miss. A really good sangiovese has the inexplicable ability to seem both taut and muscular, lean and rich, at the same time. That’s certainly true here; this wine is 100% sangiovese. But what makes Selvapiania’s “Bucerchiale” extra fascinating is its hint of delicious saltiness and noble bitterness. The merest hint of salty and bitter flavors amplify the flavors around them, so when you have this wine with a great pasta, it’s heavenly. Plus there are also waves of rose, red fruit, and mineraly/chalky notes. Selvapiana has been making wine for almost 200 years in Chianti Rufina (Rufina is the smallest subzone in the Chianti area). 94 points KM   Here the link to the website: https://winespeed.com/wine/selvapiana-4/

For our “reverse interviews” we tasted some Selvapiana wines and then had a long chat with Federico Giuntini about light bottles, changes in the vineyard and in the cellar, denominations, role of the producer, future of Rufina and of course about the wines tasted. Long chat with WineSurf.it about perhaps lesser known aspects of our profession!! Here is the complete interview: Winesurf.it intervista Federico Giuntini

Bruce Sanderson’s review of Selvapiana Chianti Rufina Bucerchiale Riserva 2016 appeared as Wine Spectator’s Daily Wine Pick for wines that cost more than $30   SELVAPIANA Chianti Rufina Bucerchiale Riserva 2016 93 points | 1,900 cases imported | Red Tasting Note: Dark and brooding, this red features ripe black cherry, blackberry, wild herb, earth and iron flavors. Gains in richness, density and ripeness what it loses in freshness, though shows fine balance and length. Drink now through 2028. —B.S.”

Our wines have obtained the following reviews and scores from Kerin O'Keefe of WineEnthusiast:   96 Selvapiana 2016 Vigneto Bucerchiale Riserva (Chianti Rufina). Loaded with personality, this opens with aromas of forest floor, new leather, camphor and ripe black-skinned fruit. The palate boasts an earthy elegance reminiscent of top Burgundies, showcasing ripe black cherry, crushed raspberry, truffle, star anise and a hint of salted game. Firm, fine-grained tannins provide support while fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2022–2036. Dalla Terra Winery Direct. Editors’ Choice. _K.O. abv: 14.5%   91 Selvapiana 2018 Chianti Rufina. Fragrant and loaded with finesse, this vibrant red has aromas of violet, wild berry, camphor and new leather. It’s radiant and racy, offering juicy cranberry, orange zest, star anise and crushed mint before closing on a hint of rusty nail. Lithe, polished tannins and vibrant acidity provide the setting. Drink through 2023. Dalla Terra Winery Direct. —K.O. abv: 13.5%   92 Selvapiana 2017 Villa Petrognano (Pomino). Fragrant and refined, this opens with enticing scents of rose, violet, sandalwood and forest floor. All about finesse, the elegantly structured palate delivers ripe Marasca cherry, strawberry compote, star anise and ground cinnamon set against firm, fine-grained tannins. It’s well balanced, with fresh acidity. Drink 2023–2029. Dalla Terra Winery Direct. —K.O. abv: 14.5% WE_Sevlapiana_ABG_KerinO'Keefe

Selvapiana wines have also been reviewed by Falstaff and are included in the magazine Falstaff Tasting Toscana Centrale, soon on newsstands in the printed version.   “ BIO Vigneto Bucerchiale Chianti Rufina Riserva DOCG 2016 Selvapiana DIAM. Kraftvolles, leuchtendes Rubin mit feinem Granatrand. Sehr intensive und spannende Nase nach reifer Frucht, vor allem Kirsche und Zwetschke, etwas schwarze Trüffel. Breitet sich am Gau-men satt aus, viel dichtmaschiges Tan-nin, saftig und dicht, öffnet sich in vielen Schichten, im Finale fester Druck und er-dige Noten, viel Tabak.   BIO Vigneto Bucerchiale Chianti Rufina Riserva DOCG 2017 NK. Glänzendes, sattes Rubin. Eröffnet mit Noten nach Harz und Buchsbaum, dann dunkle Kirsche. Kompakt und dicht-maschig in Ansatz und Verlauf, zeigt viel Kraft, griffiges, zupackendes Tannin, ge-paart mit feinem, süßem Schmelz, herz-haft und lange.   Vigneto Erchi Chianti Rufina DOCG 2016 Selvapiana 14 Vol.-%, NK. Leuchtendes Rubinrot mit funkelndem Kern. Edle und einladende Nase nach dezenter Gewürznelke, satter Kirsche und Pflaume sowie einer Prise Weihrauch. Am Gaumen saftig und prä-sent, spannt sich mit mineralischem Un-terton auf, zeigt satten Druck, kraftvolles Tannin, bleibt lange haften.”   Furthermore, all tasting notes will be available online on the site http://www.falstaff.com/toskana-2021 fals_AT_2101_Tasting Toskana

Bruce Sanderson’s latest Selvapiana score ran in the publication’s Insider Weekly newsletter. SELVAPIANA Pomino Villa Petrognano 2017 93 points | 250 cases imported | Red The sweet, smoky aroma of burning vine cuttings introduces this enticing red. Black cherry and black currant flavors are framed by cedar, pencil shavings, tar and tobacco. It firms up in the end, with beefy tannins and a lingering savory finish. Sangiovese. Best from 2022 through 2035. —B.S.

When we talk about winemaking we have to think of a series of phases that must be carried out methodically but at the same time are never the same, in fact many factors change with each harvest and must be taken into consideration. And this is even more true if wines are produced respecting the territory and seasonality. The racking is one of those phases whose importance is often underestimated, but it has a very specific meaning and is anything but improvised. Specifically, racking allows the elimination of sediments from the liquid obtained from fermentation, that is residues of skins, grape seeds, but also yeast and more. These substances have different specific weights and the lighter ones continue to remain, slowly depositing on the bottom with the passing of the months, and this is why at the Fattoria di Selvapiana we carry out up to three, to obtain a limpid, clear and stable wine. We use the Air Transfer technique, which consists of pouring the wine into an open container placed lower down, an action that promotes the oxygenation of the wine, protects from any reduction problems and eliminates unpleasant odors caused by fermentation. About a month after the end of the vinification, after the pressing phase, we proceed with the racking in order to clean the wine from the lees over time. This first racking of the wine has the purpose of eliminating the lees that have gone to deposit on the bottom of the container. In Selvapiana, after the two fermentations, we have the tradition of carrying out two more rackings in order to be able to refine the wines as clean as possible. It is important to carry out this step with extreme care and attention to avoid alterations in the wine. This phase is very delicate and requires a lot of time and attention to be carried out in the correct time and manner. At the end of winter or early spring the wine must be racked again. It is important that this racking is done before the hot season arrives, a period in which it is always inadvisable to make the wine undergo "displacements" that could alter its chemical state. Also in this case our experience and technical knowledge allow us to avoid the use of adjuvant or stabilizing substances. Generally in white and young wines the process ends here and bottling is carried out, while in the red and white ones destined for aging, further annual rackings are carried out in the spring, again to preserve color and properties.

Bruce Sanderson’s review of the 2016 Bucerchiale was included in today’s Insider Weekly Newsletter, the wine was his Value Pick of the Week! "VALUE PICK OF THE WEEK ITALY SELVAPIANA Chianti Rufina Bucerchiale Riserva 2016 93 points | 1,900 cases imported | Red Tasting Note: Dark and brooding, this red features ripe black cherry, blackberry, wild herb, earth and iron flavors. Gains in richness, density and ripeness what it loses in freshness, though shows fine balance and length. Drink now through 2028. —B.S."

  Our Selvapiana Chianti Rufina Vigneto Erchi 2016 obtained the following review and rating on WineEnthusiast: “Perfumed and all about finesse, this focused red (the result of a long-term project) is the latest addition to the firm’s stellar lineup. It opens with enticing aromas of fragrant purple flower, wild berry, truffle, baking spice and a whiff of crushed herb. Smooth and radiant, it delivers crushed cherry, raspberry compote, mint and star anise flavors set against taut polished tannins. Bright acidity lends balance and tension. Drink 2021–2036. KERIN O’KEEFE RATING 95 DESIGNATION Vigneto Erchi VARIETY Sangiovese APPELLATION Chianti Rufina, Tuscany, Italy WINERY Selvapiana“

Our wine SELVAPIANA CHIANTI RUFINA VIGNETO ERCHI RISERVA 2017 obtained the highest recognition of the FOUR VINES in the seventh edition of the VITAE Italian Wines Guide, published by the Italian Sommelier Association. We remind that the usual tasting of all the awarded wines and the delivery of the certificates to the Producers, scheduled in Rome at the Nuvola di Fuksas for Saturday, November 28, 2020, will unfortunately not take place in person this year.