2003 Fattoria Selvapiana Chianti Rùfina Riserva Bucerchiale

Chianti

This Chianti is from the sub-area called Rufina in the Chianti region of Tuscany in Italy.  This particular wine is made from 100% Sangiovese, bottled for the first time in 1979 by Fattoria Selvapiana. The word fattoria means wine farm/wine estate in Italian.  Chianti became well known in our daily lives due to a very popular and scary movie called “Silence of the Lambs,” during which Dr. Hannibal Lecter advised that he had enjoyed a bottle of chianti with some liver and fava beans.  I took down a bottle of the 2003 Fattoria Selvapiana Chianti Rùfina Riserva Bucerchiale.

On the nose: Cherry & Cherry and more cherry. Meaty.  I love Chianti, especially a nice riserva.  Can be held up in the same regard with the king of Tuscan wines, Brunello, if you are directed to a good bottle.  Color of orange on the rim, very pretty.  Take a sour cherry and put it in a meat grinder and take a deep breath.  In through the nose – out through the mouth.

Palate: Sun dried tomato.  At first it seems light but once in the mouth it takes over.  Easy 45 minute finish.  This is begging for some red sauce that a balding, ginger & fat chef with orange Crocs can only make.  Little Bolognese anyone? Take a tomato and leave it out on the porch for 2 days and take it back in the kitchen and put in the pot that Grandma was cooking in for at least a day.  Make sure to give it a little taste with a big wooden spoon. Mangia!

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

+++½  (You can most likely find the most recent vintage, which is the 2007)

Price:

$25

“Brave Clarice. You will let me know when those lambs stop screaming, won't you?”