2010 Rosato di Sangiovese, Koelmel Vineyard

Lamorinda (Contra Costa County)

 This year again, we are very excited about and proud to release the latest vintage of our 'Rosato di Sangiovese'. The 2010 Sangiovese grapes in this wine were harvested at the lowest sugar and pH levels we've experienced from this vineyard (about 22.5°B, 3.39 pH), however the fruit possessed deliciously well-developed flavors. The juice for this wine sat on the skins at very cool temperatures for about 8 hours before being bled off to a stainless steel tank, where it was fermented and aged. Pigmentation in the skins was lighter this year than most, so we actually bled off a larger percentage of the liquid for the rose to enhance the color/tannin extraction in our red Sangiovese wine.

The resulting 2010 Rosato exhibits a beautiful pale strawberry-colored wine with glimmering clarity. As usual, the nose exudes captivatingly floral aromas of fresh-picked strawberries and cherry blossoms with the classic Sangiovese element of fresh forest floor in the background, augmented by a subtle, alluring trace of muskmelon.

The palate is full of bright, crisp, refreshing flavors of pomegranate and bing cherries highlighted by a touch of citrus and minerality that some in our tasting panel pondered was akin to gunsmoke (any duck hunters out there?). The mouthfeel is smooth and enticingly well-balanced, with clean bracing acidity, but modest alcohol to satisfy the palate rather than inundate it. The finish is not terribly lengthy, yet leaves a lasting impression that this was a yummy, pleasurable mouthful of wine.

This wine will make an excellent warm-weather sipping wine to drink (well-chilled) by itself or on a picnic. For a delectable food pairing, try it as a complement to a wild arugula salad topped with ripe sliced strawberries and/or pomegranate seeds, topped with shaved aged Parmeggiano Reggiano and some button crimini mushrooms sautéed in olive oil and garlic. This wine should best be enjoyed in its youth this year or next.