2019 Fattoria di Basciano Chianti Rufina Tuscany 750 ml

Fattoria di Basciano’s muscular 2019 Chianti Rufina is exactly the type of bottle you discover on vacation, fall in love with, and can never track down again. Except this time, the mystery vacation bottle IS available at home—and it’s one you’ll be reaching for again and again.

Fattoria di Basciano has fashioned a Chianti with a level of polish and earthy depth that we’re used to seeing priced at $25…or higher. Lauded by Wine Spectator as “Pure and focused,” and by James Suckling as “balanced,” and “refined,” it’s generous and instantly satisfying, a bold interpretation of this untamed corner of Tuscany—and it should go for a lot more in the market.

While trekking around Florence, we stopped at a small restaurant called Amblé, looking to refuel on pappardelle al cinghiale after a long day on our feet. We perused the wine list, and after taking our order the red-aproned waiter told us he had something in mind. 

A few minutes later, he brought over a bottle of the ruby Fattoria di Basciano, decanted it tableside, poured a glass, then disappeared before we could get a question in. But within a minute of tasting this wine, we were left in awe at its rich boldness and succulent ripeness.

Long story short, the next morning we piloted our yellow Fiat into the Apennine foothills of Chianti Rufina, one of the smallest subzones of the Chianti DOCG, and one famous for its quality.

Here, steep vineyards are hundreds of feet higher than in Chianti Classico, and the distance from the coast amplifies diurnal temperature variation. That means vineyards like Fattoria di Basciano’s allow Sangiovese to ripen slowly, developing intensity and depth of flavor.