2019 was not a great year in Tuscany, but this kind of suits this wine that sometimes is a bit overwhelming in good years. Brownish red, already verging on amber at the rim, but with a fine light ruby core. Classic Sangiovese nose of bright cherries, warm earth and some tobacco, complemented by a hint of spicy mint. Medium to full bodied attack, almost sweet up front. Expands on the mid palate to a full throttle burst of cherries and plums, combined with that fine tobacco and mint flavors. The finish is dry - as Sangiovese should be - and fresh. Tobacco and warm earth lingers on the long aftertaste. Not the big blockbuster type of Chianti that this wine csan be, but much more on the elegant side. Prhaps the alcohol is a bit too present, making the overall impression somewhat “hot”. Still a great wine that is perfect to drink now with pizza, meat-dominated pastas and white meat. Will keep for many years, though.
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Decanted 1 hour. Full rich heavy cherry nose upon decanting. Flavor of full ripe plums, soft lead pencil w/soft light acidity. Finish of light leather. Went well w/Mushroom risotto.
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Great stuff - this has become my go-to red with pasta when I just want a really good/non-spendy bottle that's easy to drink. (The Selvapiana olive oil from RWC is also really good.)
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Usually a powerhouse Chianti, although it's from the rather cool area of Rufina. IN this vintage, the wine is much more restrained and elegant, and perhaps a bit less concentrated. Classic light ruby with brown hints. Expressive cherry notes on the nose, almost verging on cherry jelly, but also with fine hints of warm bricks and earth, and an intriguing sweet spice tone that is hard to nail down. Medium bodied attack, very good cherry fruit and acidity up front. Fans out on the mid palate to include tones of cherry stone bitterness and an almost citrusy tone. Salivating finish leading into an aftertaste with fine red cherry tones, some earthy tones, and that spicy tone again. A bit warm on the end. This is for drinking now, but I have been following this wine for the last 25 years and it ages astonishngly well.
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This wine is on the lighter side as far as Chianti Classico's go. It is not very aromatic but has a better in mouth expression, where primary red fruits and a soft mouthfeel gives enjoyable wine. Nice wine.
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This 2019 Selvapiana Bucerchiale Chianti Rufina Riserva 2019 is "a hidden gem", one of the best Riserva from Rufina. Light red, delicate sweet and sour and cherry on nose, complex taste of leather, prunes, nutmeg, tobacco, hazelnut, medium tannins and a long finish, you can drink 2019 now but should also cellar well for 10+ more years. Rufina is the highest of the Chianti appellations and the high altitude helps to retain acidity, freshness and give more intense fruit aromas. 93p
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Light bodied. Light flavors of tomato, cherry and herb. For my tastes, a lesser vintage especially when poured next to the '18. To be fair though, others liked it more than I did.
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Clear medium light red. Nice fresh strawberry, raspberry, red flowers, and some Tuscan spice. Dry spicy cherry and berry flavours and a balanced dry finish.
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PnP. Garnet with brick edge in color. Nose of cherries, sweet tobacco, tuscan earth and black licorice. On the palate: bright cherry, sweet tobacco, tanned leather and notes of baking spice. Fine-grained, sandy tannins are surprisingly well integrated; perceived on cheeks and gums. Long finish of red berries, vanilla and rose water. Will definitely benefit from some more time in the cellar, but was pleasantly surprised by how smooth and balanced this is right now.
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After about an hour's worth of air, this is aromatic and all together lovely as it fills the glass with sour red cherries, red flowers, clay notes, spices, savory herbs, balsamico, licorice, and sweet tobacco. There is excellent depth and style here as the fruit plays well into the red spectrum while showing off a lovely, savory side. The Full-bodied feel is plush and youthful with tart, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. This is showing extremely well in its youth. Shockingly well at that. Still, a good 5 or so years of aging will do this a lot of good so that the savory flavors emerge more, and everything comes into full harmony.
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Under the loathsome cork, note made on third day opened, not decanted, using Riedel Vinum Bordeaux stem and I cling to the CT scale like a limpet.
There are good things happening in this Chianti Rufina from a very good year. I have a nagging feeling that my general malaise may be impacting my response to this wine, so bear that in mind when considering it.
My main criticism is a lack of definition on the palate and a question about whether this wine has sufficient freshness given its youth.
The colour medium deep with good concentration, although I feel there is a slight lack of brightness and clarity, which reinforces my note on a lack of definition.
The nose gives off a nice mix of dried herbs, some roast meat, cedar and ripe cherry fruit, a little rose fragrance. This is good. The palate has exemplary length and intensity, it delivers on the nose but there is a sense of a wash of flavour rather than distinct articulation. This may well not bother a lot of drinkers and there is enough to like, so perhaps I am too picky. It has held up beautifully over 3 days, perhaps in part sustained by some fairly chunky tannins.
This is a wine that will easily cope with your most bulky casserole or ragout; I think it laughs in the face of danger. I am sure you could cellar it for 7-10 years but will that lack of definition just lead to an even murkier product? Don't buy to cellar without testing it first.
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4/30/2024 - dagij Likes this wine: 89 Points
2019 was not a great year in Tuscany, but this kind of suits this wine that sometimes is a bit overwhelming in good years. Brownish red, already verging on amber at the rim, but with a fine light ruby core. Classic Sangiovese nose of bright cherries, warm earth and some tobacco, complemented by a hint of spicy mint. Medium to full bodied attack, almost sweet up front. Expands on the mid palate to a full throttle burst of cherries and plums, combined with that fine tobacco and mint flavors. The finish is dry - as Sangiovese should be - and fresh. Tobacco and warm earth lingers on the long aftertaste. Not the big blockbuster type of Chianti that this wine csan be, but much more on the elegant side. Prhaps the alcohol is a bit too present, making the overall impression somewhat “hot”. Still a great wine that is perfect to drink now with pizza, meat-dominated pastas and white meat. Will keep for many years, though.
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2/19/2024 - casaallora Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Full rich heavy cherry nose upon decanting. Flavor of full ripe plums, soft lead pencil w/soft light acidity. Finish of light leather. Went well w/Mushroom risotto.
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12/17/2023 - Musiclistener Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Quick tasting at a retailer. Unexciting with no tension or vigour.
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12/10/2023 - salil wrote: 90 Points
Great stuff - this has become my go-to red with pasta when I just want a really good/non-spendy bottle that's easy to drink. (The Selvapiana olive oil from RWC is also really good.)
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12/9/2023 - THECORKDORK Likes this wine: 91 Points
Absolute steal for the money. The best Chianti outside of the classico zone?
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11/1/2023 - dagij Likes this wine: 89 Points
Usually a powerhouse Chianti, although it's from the rather cool area of Rufina. IN this vintage, the wine is much more restrained and elegant, and perhaps a bit less concentrated. Classic light ruby with brown hints. Expressive cherry notes on the nose, almost verging on cherry jelly, but also with fine hints of warm bricks and earth, and an intriguing sweet spice tone that is hard to nail down. Medium bodied attack, very good cherry fruit and acidity up front. Fans out on the mid palate to include tones of cherry stone bitterness and an almost citrusy tone. Salivating finish leading into an aftertaste with fine red cherry tones, some earthy tones, and that spicy tone again. A bit warm on the end. This is for drinking now, but I have been following this wine for the last 25 years and it ages astonishngly well.
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9/17/2023 - tomoem wrote: 90 Points
This wine is on the lighter side as far as Chianti Classico's go. It is not very aromatic but has a better in mouth expression, where primary red fruits and a soft mouthfeel gives enjoyable wine. Nice wine.
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8/9/2023 - Per-Harald Likes this wine: 93 Points
This 2019 Selvapiana Bucerchiale Chianti Rufina Riserva 2019 is "a hidden gem", one of the best Riserva from Rufina. Light red, delicate sweet and sour and cherry on nose, complex taste of leather, prunes, nutmeg, tobacco, hazelnut, medium tannins and a long finish, you can drink 2019 now but should also cellar well for 10+ more years. Rufina is the highest of the Chianti appellations and the high altitude helps to retain acidity, freshness and give more intense fruit aromas. 93p
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7/30/2023 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Light bodied. Light flavors of tomato, cherry and herb. For my tastes, a lesser vintage especially when poured next to the '18. To be fair though, others liked it more than I did.
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7/22/2023 - David J Cooper wrote: 91 Points
Clear medium light red. Nice fresh strawberry, raspberry, red flowers, and some Tuscan spice. Dry spicy cherry and berry flavours and a balanced dry finish.
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7/16/2023 - KristianEriksen wrote: 90 Points
Nose: Cherries, spices, herbs and oak.
Palate: Concentrated fruit with good acidity and medium high body. Light tannins with a long finish.
Note: Decanted for one hour. A bit closed at this point, needs more time. Storage potential the next ten years.
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7/7/2023 - Garmann Likes this wine: 92 Points
En tørr og lekker Italiensk Rødvin. Godt eikepreg.
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5/14/2023 - caesar77 Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. Garnet with brick edge in color. Nose of cherries, sweet tobacco, tuscan earth and black licorice. On the palate: bright cherry, sweet tobacco, tanned leather and notes of baking spice. Fine-grained, sandy tannins are surprisingly well integrated; perceived on cheeks and gums. Long finish of red berries, vanilla and rose water. Will definitely benefit from some more time in the cellar, but was pleasantly surprised by how smooth and balanced this is right now.
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5/8/2023 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 Points
After about an hour's worth of air, this is aromatic and all together lovely as it fills the glass with sour red cherries, red flowers, clay notes, spices, savory herbs, balsamico, licorice, and sweet tobacco. There is excellent depth and style here as the fruit plays well into the red spectrum while showing off a lovely, savory side. The Full-bodied feel is plush and youthful with tart, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. This is showing extremely well in its youth. Shockingly well at that. Still, a good 5 or so years of aging will do this a lot of good so that the savory flavors emerge more, and everything comes into full harmony.
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4/22/2023 - Bigdong wrote: 91 Points
91+ smooth, bright red fruit, red plums, some earth. light oak flavors. medium low tannins, very nice sipping wine.
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10/29/2022 - Rote Kappelle wrote: 90 Points
Under the loathsome cork, note made on third day opened, not decanted, using Riedel Vinum Bordeaux stem and I cling to the CT scale like a limpet.
There are good things happening in this Chianti Rufina from a very good year. I have a nagging feeling that my general malaise may be impacting my response to this wine, so bear that in mind when considering it.
My main criticism is a lack of definition on the palate and a question about whether this wine has sufficient freshness given its youth.
The colour medium deep with good concentration, although I feel there is a slight lack of brightness and clarity, which reinforces my note on a lack of definition.
The nose gives off a nice mix of dried herbs, some roast meat, cedar and ripe cherry fruit, a little rose fragrance. This is good. The palate has exemplary length and intensity, it delivers on the nose but there is a sense of a wash of flavour rather than distinct articulation. This may well not bother a lot of drinkers and there is enough to like, so perhaps I am too picky. It has held up beautifully over 3 days, perhaps in part sustained by some fairly chunky tannins.
This is a wine that will easily cope with your most bulky casserole or ragout; I think it laughs in the face of danger. I am sure you could cellar it for 7-10 years but will that lack of definition just lead to an even murkier product? Don't buy to cellar without testing it first.
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