91+(?) 2006 Selvapiana Bucerchiale Chianti Rufina Riserva 11/21/09 ($32)
Color: Medium brick red. Not as deep as the '04. (3.0) Bouquet: Tuscan terroir with beef broth and some cigarbox complementing stewed black cherries. Classic. (3.5) Body: Excellent acidity and fruit with solid, but smooth tannins. Light heavyweight that needs a little time for the acidity to totally integrate. (3.5) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but not quite as giving with smoky beef broth. (3.0) Finish: Parallels flavor with cigarbox and some youthful acidity lingering. Still long and tasty with a radish-like spicyness. A little bitterness possibly from oak. (3.0)
Overall: This is classic Chianti Riserva with significant cigarbox and excellent terroir and complexity. It has sufficient fruit, but not as rich as the '04. Still an excellent value for a classic Riserva. A little too much oak for the amount of fruit, resulting in bitterness in the finish, makes me question whether it will improve, but a solid excellent even now. (16.0)
Copyright © 2006 - 2009, Paul DeRose , WineOutpost.com