On the Road with the Grape Guy
Terraelectae Dinner - Chianti Rufina
05 May 2025- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(Febraury 2025) ... Terraelectae: chosen land, special land, elected land - just some of the translations possible for this word on these bottles of wine. For me, "chosen land" fits best. This is single vineyard Sangiovese from a special part of Chianti known as Rufina.
Rufina decided they wanted to follow the rules of Gran Selezione along with Chianti Classico - but they went one step further, making their wines 100% Sangiovese from a 'cru' (single vineyard / single plot) – which 
is named right on the bottle. What we, as consumers, end up with, are a plethora of great wines that are also affordable, that shows off the diversity, the beauty, and passion of the winemakers from this area.
Tonight, a dinner accompanied these wines, paired not only with food, but put up against one another: two wines per course, I rated the best wine presented and gave it a review.
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Colognole (wins between the first two wines): 
2021 Vigneto Le Rogaie ... Fruit forward, but with enough acidity and weight to make it drinkable with food and/or on its own. (****)
Vinae Montae
2021 Vigneto il Monte: An elegant wine that shows its dark fruit roots and spicy middle with good mocha and blackberry. Nice acid backbone. (****)
Marchesi Gondi
2020 Poggio Diamante: what a powerhouse wine, it's a fist in a velvet glove. Dark fruit that leans bold and brilliant, a juicy core of pure fruity goodness backed by Sangiovese acidity. Total yum. (****+)
Grignano
2021 Vigna Montefiesole: smooth and sexy, with creme de cassis, blackberry, good acidity and silky tannins. (****+)
Frescobaldi
2021 Vigna Montesodi: Mocha, smoky and black cherry - mouth filling fruit load with blackberry, black cherry and cassis. Tannins are silky and the acidity hides in the background until it is needed. (**** ½)
Selvapiana
2020 Vigneto Erchi: This was a big fight with a wine from I Veroni, but the Selva finally wins the battle with a good freshness and spice, but there’s also some balsamic-strawberry and cassis, mocha and subtle tannin - this is a delicious bottle of wine. Elegant and electric. (**** ½)
