Produced only in the best vintages, ‘Selva di Sotto’ hails from another steep, high elevation (500m) vineyard, this one surrounded by forest and in limestone-rich soil (compared to Rincrocca’s clay.) Harvested 2 weeks after its Riserva counterpart, the salinity and high-tension acidity of Selva’s soil and exposition are still very much apparent; Riccardo actually chose to hold this in bottle for 3 years before release, giving it more time to fully take form. Yellow flowers, pear, apricot, whiffs of smoke and almond come forward in the glass. Textures are lean but pliant, with a strong vein of crushed rock minerality underpinning ripe yellow apple, hints of spice, and a very ‘meadow after spring rain’ freshness. There’s a building of structural tension, with concentrated and crystalline florals that slowly taper off, and an overall impression of extreme elegance. Laser-focused now, this is one to hold onto.