Chianti Rufina · Tuscany
One castle. Three Chianti.
When people say “Chianti” they usually think of the hills between Florence and Siena. But Chianti is a family of seven zones, and one of the most fascinating is also the smallest: Chianti Rufina, about 20 km north-east of Florence, along the valley of the Sieve and the Arno.
The smallest Chianti, with a mountain soul
Chianti Rufina covers just over 12,400 hectares. Its vineyards climb up to about 400 metres, at the foot of the Apennines. Here the days are warm and the nights are cool: this wide swing keeps the aromas fragrant and the acidity fresh. Sangiovese from Rufina is known for its elegance, its long life and a bright, almost mountain freshness. (New to Chianti? Our guide to reading an Italian wine label explains what Riserva means.)
The castle of Nipozzano
On a hillside above the Arno valley stands Castello Nipozzano, an ancient stronghold dating back to around the year 1000. It has belonged for centuries to the Frescobaldi family, one of the oldest wine families in Tuscany (read their story in Frescobaldi: Seven Centuries of Tuscan Wine). From its vineyards come three wines that are a perfect lesson in Sangiovese.
Three levels from one estate
1. Nipozzano Riserva. The classic. Aged in wood and then in bottle: red cherry, violets, spice and a firm but friendly structure. A Sunday-lunch red.
2. Nipozzano Vecchie Viti. From the oldest vines of the estate, whose deep roots give concentration and complexity. Matured 24 months in oak. The Frescobaldi family chose it to celebrate the birth of new family members: a wine for important moments.
3. Montesodi. Frescobaldi calls it the first cru of Chianti Rufina and the greatest expression of their Sangiovese. Deep, dense and long, it is a wine to keep or to open with a special meal.
 Chianti Rufina Riserva “Nipozzano” 2017 – Frescobaldi The classic Riserva of the castle. €23.70 Buy |
 Chianti Rufina Riserva “Nipozzano Vecchie Viti” 2019 – Frescobaldi From the oldest vines: deeper and more complex. €28.90 Buy |
 Chianti Rufina Riserva “Montesodi” 2017 – Frescobaldi The cru: the greatest Sangiovese of Nipozzano. €54.80 Buy |
 Chianti Rufina “San Giuliano” – Marchesi Gondi Another noble Florentine family, another face of Rufina. €24.90 Buy |
At the table
Serve at 16–18 °C. These wines love Tuscan winter food: bistecca alla fiorentina, roast meats, ribollita, mushroom dishes and aged Pecorino. To close the dinner, a small glass of Grappa di Nipozzano, distilled from the estate's grapes.
 Grappa “Nipozzano” – Frescobaldi €26.80 Buy |
Sources
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