2016 Castell’in Villa Rosato Toscana

Region: Tuscany < Italy
Grapes: Sangiovese
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming and winemaking, no pesticides used.
Winemaker: Coralia Pignatelli della Leonessa

The estate of Castel’in Villa is a throwback to another time. Some structures remain from when the site was a medieval village in the 1200s, occupying nearly 300 hectares that encompass the original mix of grapes, olives, other crops alongside woodlands full of wild boar, pheasants and hare. The medieval stone tower today houses owner and winemaker Coralia Pignatelli della Leonessa, known affectionately as Principessa – because, of course, she is a real-life princess. But the winemaking and farming at Castel’in Villa are far from fancy – clean, hands-off and old-school, just the way we like it. Coralia only started making a rosé a few years ago, and it absolutely measures up to their highly-regarded Chianti Classico wines. Picked and pressed just for rosé, the 2016 is brilliant (literally, hot pink) and energetic, with bright strawberry and cherry fruit and a bone-dry finish. It’s hard not to gulp, but if you savor it slowly you’ll notice the beautiful things about Sangiovese that we love – spice, rose petal and a dry, dusty note. Its distinctive and different rosato – royal for sure.