Have you ever tasted a wine so magical that it made you hear choirs of angels sing?
Naah, me either.
But I’m here to tell you today about one that was good enough to evoke images of a pretty good garage band down the street, practicing a credible cover of a Beatles classic.
The Celebrated Cellar Clearance Starts Now!
We need room. You need savings. Treat yourself to highly rated wines at close-out prices. Plus, with $1 shipping, you’ll save up to $36 in shipping on every case. You do not need to be a member to take advantage of this sale.
The California Wine Club‘s Celebrated Cellar Clearance ends on June 12, 2015. (More info below.)
Shop Now
We didn’t really come to this wine with high expectations. True, it bears the attention-getting rhinoceros label of Giorgio Rivetti’s La Spinetta, best known as the producer of sought-after Nebbiolo-based Piemonte reds. But Casanova is Rivetti’s newish property in coastal Tuscany, near Pisa; also fine but occupying a distinctly lower price and perception tier.
What’s more, it was a rosé. Now, I’m not hating on pink wine here, but let’s be frank: When we’re listening for the sound of angelic choirs, most of us are more inclined to open classic red wines of majesty and power. Pink wine? Isn’t that intended for casual summer sipping, poolside or patio?
But Casanova Della Spinetta 2014 “Il Rosé di Casanova” Toscana Rosato is a mighty special pink, even at a high-for-rosé price tag in the $15 to $20 range.
A blend of equal proportions of the classic Tuscan red grape Sangiovese and Prugnolo Gentile, a Sangiovese clone usually prized in Vino Nobile di Mont, this wine may be labeled as a Rosé, but it looks an awful lot like a white: It’s pale-gold in color, showing just a hint of bronze.
And then you get your nose in, and along with delicious white fruit, golden raisins and green figs, there’s … something else. What the heck is it? Blackberries?
For me, one of the greater challenges in analytical wine tasting comes when a wine shows an aroma or flavor that’s unexpected for its color. When I smell blackberries, or blueberries or cranberries or blackcurrant cassis, I assume i’ve got red wine in a glass. Throw one of those “red” scents at me from a pink or white wine, and it takes a while to let go of disbelief and recalibrate my perceptions.
And then I realize that it’s delicious. Even at this price, I’m going back for more.
If this whets your appetite for rosé wine, grab a bottle and a glass and head over to our WineLovers Discussion Group, where we are tasting and talking about all manner of pink wines this month in Wine Focus.
The topic is wide open to the world of rosé. You’re welcome to bring rosé wine from anywhere around the world, whether it’s as white as this Casanova, nearly red, or any shade of pink in-between. Open, taste and talk about it … and be sure to let us know in particular when you find one that’s good enough to share.
To join in, simply click over to the WineLovers Discussion Group – you can quickly and easily log in via Facebook if you use it – and use this link for the conversation “Wine Focus for May: Rosé for spring!”
Today’s Sponsor:
The Celebrated Cellar Clearance Starts Now!
We need room. You need savings. Treat yourself to highly rated wines at close-out prices. Plus, with $1 shipping, you’ll save up to $36 in shipping on every case.
The wines we feature are typically handcrafted in very limited amounts, and in many cases, we are down to our last few cases (or bottles!) of each, so please shop early for the best selection.
You do not need to be a member to take advantage of this sale. And, as always, every wine is guaranteed to be delicious.
The California Wine Club‘s Celebrated Cellar Clearance ends on June 12, 2015.
1-800-777-4443 www.cawineclub.com
Today’s Tasting Report
Casanova Della Spinetta 2014 “Il Rosé di Casanova” Toscana Rosato ($19.99)
This Sangiovese-based pink wine may be labeled as a rosé, but it looks an awful lot like a white: It’s a clear, pale gold wine with only the faintest hint of bronze. Its fresh, complex aromas are light but appealing fresh fruit including golden raisins and figs, adding an intriguing, unexpected hint of blackberry. Mouth-filling and ripe, full fruit flavors amplify the nose. Crisp, palate-cleansing acidity and berry fruit linger in a very long finish; 12.5% alcohol. This is one excellent wine, whether it’s white or rosé. U.S. importer: Indigenous Selections LLC, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 5, 2015)
FOOD MATCH: Treat this as a high-quality, balanced-fruit white wine and go with a broad range of “white meat” options from grilled chicken to pork or veal, or go meatless with egg, cheese or bean dishes. It would surely sing with fettuccine all’Alfredo. And, of course, its refreshing complexity makes it a natural for aperitif sipping.
WHEN TO DRINK: It would be very hard to resist drinking it up now, while it’s so delicious and fresh. That said, however, the winery suggests that it will do fine with “a bit of aging,” and still recommends the 2012 and 2013 vintages.
VALUE: The $20 point might seem a bit spendy for a pink wine, but this top-rank rosé more than justifies comparison with quality whites in the $20 to $30 range. That said, however, my local price is on the high side. Wine-Searcher.com reports a $17 average U.S. retail price, and it can be found for $15 with careful shopping.)
WEB LINKS Here is a link to Giorgio Rivetti’s La Casanova page in English. This winery fact sheet offers detailed information on the Rosé. For more information, check importer Indigenous Selections’ La Rivetta Tuscany page.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Find vendors and check prices for Casanova Della Spinetta 2014 “Il Rosé di Casanova” Toscana Rosato on Wine-Searcher.com.
The importer also offers a directory of U.S. wholesale distributors. Although they can’t sell direct to the public in most states, they should be able to direct you to a local retailer.
We hope you’ll “Like” us on Facebook!
If you use Facebook, we’d be delighted to have you “Like” our WineLovers Facebook Page. This way you can get Facebook notifications when there’s a new The 30 Second Wine Advisor issue or a topic of particular interest on the WineLovers Discussion Group (WLDG).
If you’re a Facebook user, you can also now join our forum with a single click! All you need to do is visit the forum and click the “Social Login” link at upper right.
Talk About Wine Online
If you have questions, comments or ideas to share about today’s article or wine in general, you’re always welcome to drop by our online WineLovers Discussion Group, the Internet’s first and still the most civil online community. To find our forums, click:
Discussions are open for public viewing, but you must register to post. If you’re a Facebook user, you can also now join our forum with a single click! All you need to do is visit the forum and click the “Social Login” link at upper right.
We use only your name and Email to identify you and make no other claim on your Facebook information or privacy. However, if you prefer not to use Facebook, contact me at wine@wineloverspage.com for information about registration.
Subscriptions and Administrivia
Unsubscribe:
We’re sorry if you must leave us, but simply click the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of your Email edition to be instantly removed from the mailing list.
Change address:
The quickest and easiest way to change your Email address is simply to register anew, using the link below. If you are keeping your old address but no longer wish to get the Wine Advisor there, click the unsubscribe link below to take it off our list; if you are closing the mailbox, you needn’t take any action, as our system will delete your old address as soon as the mail to your old address starts to “bounce.”
Subscribe to this weekly E-letter (free)
WineLoversPage.com RSS Feed (free):
http://feeds.feedburner.com/wineloverspage/tzva
Sponsorship Opportunities:
For information, E-mail wine@wineloverspage.com
