Tag Archives: rosé

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Il Mimo’ Nebbiolo Rosé Colline Novaresi DOC 2016

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Estate: Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo is located in Ghemme, at the top of the Piedmont region of northern Italy. The property has been handed down from father to son for centuries, all the while cultivating grapes for their own use or selling to other wineries. [The family’s “viticulture presence in Ghemme is documented from the beginning of the 1500s onwards”.] In 1977 Alberto Arlunno took the reins of the estate, revitalizing and increasing the vineyards and began estate bottling the grapes. Today the estate consists of 100 hectares, 34 of which are under vine.

Winemaking: Grapes were sourced from vineyards located on alluvial hills where “in ancient times the great Monte Rosa glacier receded. The soil is rich in easily fragmented pebbles providing the vines with a quantity of minerals.” The Nebbiolo Rosé takes its name from an ancient Roman mime mask that was found at the base of the Ghemme hill. Both theatre and wine are areas presided over by the ancient Greek god Dionysus, [or Bacchus during Roman times].

Tasting Notes: Bright orange-coral in colour with soft aromas of peach, citrus zest and lemongrass. Light peach, currant, citrus and grass flavours are accented by a bright acidity, peach and apricot comprise the dry, fruity finish. A little more body then most Rosé, don’t drink this straight out of the fridge, let it sit in the glass a bit for the aromas and flavours to open.

100% Nebbiolo
Colline Novaresi DOC
Italy
Estate Bottled by Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo di Alberto Arlunno
13.5% Alcohol
$12
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Tenuta Sant’Antonio ‘Scaia’ Rosato Veneto IGT 2016

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Estate: Tenuta Sant’Antonio is the passion of 4 brothers: Armando, Paolo, Tiziano and Massimo Castagnedi. They grew up cultivating their father’s vineyards in the Valpolicello region of Veneto, northern Italy. In 1989, after working as technical consultants in other vineyards throughout Italy, they purchased 30 hectares of land in Monti Garbi, around their original 20 hectare family estate. They planted indigenous grapes alongside the existing vineyards and built a new winery. Today they farm over 100 hectares of vines, and are renowned for their Amarone, Valpolicella Ripasso and Valpolicella. ‘Scaia’ is the estate’s “easily accessible” range of wines that showcase indigenous and international grape varietals.

Philosophy: “Concentrate on quality rather then quantity.”

Winemaking: The vineyards are cultivated using organic methods, as they are “tended with love and attention to maintain a balance with nature”.  Grapes were sourced from vineyards with sandy, loam soil with white calcareous subsoil in the Comune di Mezzane di Sotto.

Tasting Notes: Pale coral in colour with aromas of nectarine, grapefruit, clean minerals along with a floral hint. Light, sunny flavours of nectarine and apricot are accented by a subtle herbaceous streak. Racy acidity underscores the refreshing grapefruit and mineral finish. Light, airy and refreshing, a fantastic companion to summer dishes and activities.

Pairing Suggestions from the Winery: First courses and risottos, polenta, fresh cheeses, poultry and fish.

100% Rondinella
Veneto IGT
Italy
Produced and Bottled by Società Agricola Tenuta Sant’Antonio di Castagnedi Massimo
12.5% Alcohol
$10
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Trediberri Rosato Langhe DOC 2016

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Estate: The Trediberri [three of Berri] estate is located in the small village of Berri, in the westernmost part of La Morra, close to the Tanaro River in the Langhe region of Piedmonte. Nicola Oberto along with his friend Vladimiro Rambaldi founded Trediberri in 2007, when they purchased 5 hectares in Barolo. Today their vineyard holdings have increased to include 2 hectares in the Rocche Annunziata and Torriglione, where they produce Barolo, Barbera and Sauvignon Blanc, along with renting an additional hectare in La Morra.

The family winery is aware that they are young, but they are passionate about crafting “the most drinkable and balanced wines possible”. Using artisan, traditional and organic methods, but not limiting themselves to any one particular practice, they strive for equilibrium in their wines. They tend to age in cement, however depending on the individual grape or vineyard, they may choose to use wood instead. Progressive, honest and fantastically witty, check out their original, clever bio page here.

Tasting Notes: Bright pink-red in colour, bursting with aromas of fresh strawberries, wildflowers and rain washed minerals. Exuding the freshness of early summer, with juicy strawberry and raspberry flavours glazed with bright acidity. Compelling candied ginger and crushed white peppercorn lead into the refreshing, dry fruit finish that keeps you reaching for more.

80% Nebbiolo, 20% Barbera
Langhe DOC
Italy
Bottled by Società Agricola Trediberri di Nicola Oberto & C. ss
12.5% Alcohol
$15 [average price]
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A Tale of Two Austrian Rosés

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I’m a huge fan of side by side tastings. Personally I feel I’m able to better understand the nuances of a region, grape, producer and vintage. Below are two 2016 Rosés hailing from Austria, one 100% Zweigelt coming from a vineyard that dates back nearly 1000 years, the other a Zweigelt blend from a young winemaking couple that combined their family’s vineyards in 2013.

Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg ‘Cistercien’ Rosé 2016

Estate: One of Austria’s oldest wineries, since 1137 the monks of the Zwettl Monastery produced wine at Schloss Gobelsburg. In 1995 Willi Bründlmayer and Michael Moosbrugger took over the historical 35 hectare estate with a long term lease. In 2006 Michael Moosbrugger was awarded ‘Winemaker of the Year’ by the Austrian magazine Falstaff, the highest award given to an Austrian winemaker, and in 2009 and 2010 the estate was acknowledged as ‘ONE OF THE TOP 100 WINERIES OF THE YEAR’ by Wine & Spirits Magazine.

Philosophy: “Just as wind and sun leave their imprint on the face of every farmer, authentic wine is a mirror of the soil, the rain, the sun and the wind that made it ripen.”

Winemaking: Certified sustainable, the estate utilizes organic and sustainable methods in both the vineyards and cellar. Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg is the “classics” line of the estate, the label is a lithography from around 1840 depicting the castle and church on the property.

Tasting Notes: Copper pink in colour with friendly aromas of sweet, fresh fruit, white flowers and minerals. Light and fresh with strawberry, raspberry and nectarine flavours underscored by tingly acidity. Citrus zest comprises the refreshing finish. Well balanced, refined, yet with a laid-back edge, a fantastic summery sip.

Blend of Zweigelt, St. Laurent and Pinot Noir [I could not verify varietal percentages.]
Austria
Bottled by Schloss Gobelsburg GMBH
12% Alcohol
$13
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Hugle Weine Zweigelt Rosé 2016

Estate: Weingut Hugl’s vineyards are located on south and southwest facing hillsides within a 2 km (1.2 mi) radius around the town of Poysdor in northeast Austria. The young husband and wife team of Sylvia and Martin Hugl were each raised in winegrowing families. In 2013, they combined their 2 family estates for a total of 22 hectares [54.3 acres] and launched the Hugl-Wimmer line of wines. They also collaborated with several winegrowing partners, increasing their vineyard access by 25 hectares [61.8 acres].

Philosophy: “To produce easy-drinking wines suitable for every occasion, with fruity, fresh white wines and elegant, classic red wines.”

Winemaking: Grapes are sourced from vines 10-15 years old, fermented in stainless steel tanks.

Tasting Notes: Pale coral pink in colour with intriguing aromas of wild berries, bramble, white pepper, minerals and a shake of funk. A spicy edge to the tart red fruits [think raspberry, red currant, pomegranate], white pepper and a hint of earthy minerality. Finishing zippy with pepper dusted fruit. Rustic with a bit more intensity then the typical rosé.

100% Zweigelt
Austria
Bottled by Weinkellerei Hugl-Wimmer GmbH
12% Alcohol
$10
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Vrac Rosé Vin de Pays de Mediterranée IGP 2016

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Brand: Vrac translates to “bulk” or “loose”, whilst ‘En Vrac’ translates to “bring your own bottle”. These phrases refer to the French practice of locals filling their own vessels with wine directly from the winery’s tanks. The producer intended to reflect that custom with VRAC, and crafted a simple, French countryside jug-style wine.

Winemaking: Grapes were sourced from sustainably farmed vineyards in the Pays des Maures and the Pays de la Mediterranée, in the heart of Provence, southeastern France. “The juice is bled from the macerating fruit (“saignée” in French) at the perfect moment to optimize the color and flavor from the skins, and is left to ferment in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures for a long, cool fermentation.”

Tasting Notes: Pale coral-pink in colour with summery aromas of strawberry, raspberry and clean minerals. Tasting similar to the aromas, light and airy strawberry and raspberry along with a quick shake of white pepper harmonize with a tangy acidity. Clean minerality and a hint of citrus comprise the dry, zippy finish. Friendly and gluggable, easy to pair with summer dishes, consistently one of my fave “drink all summer” Rosés.

60% Cinsault, 30% Grenache, 10% Tibouren
Vin de Pays de Mediterranée IGP
France
Bottled by Sas Savatier Selection
12.5% Alcohol
$9 or $20 3L box [4 bottles]
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