2017 Guttarolo ‘Violet’ Rosato

Region: Puglia < Italy

Grapes: Primitivo

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified organic farming (Ecocert) with biodynamic practices; limestone/karst soil, 400m elevation, fermented in stainless steel, no SO2 added; zero-zero; 12% ABV

Winemaker: Cristiano Guttarolo

NEW VINTAGE ALERT!  One of our favorite rosés EVER is back with a new vintage! 

Far from the plains of Puglia which often produce hot, flabby wines, Cristiano Guttarolo's vines sit on a plateau of fossilized limestone 400 meters above sea level 25km from the coastal city of Bari. It is cooler than usual in the daytime thanks to a stiff wind from the sea, while the site’s elevation ensures the wide range of temperatures between day and night that allows the grapes to ripen fully while retaining freshness.  The wines are clearly Pugliese, full of wild, sun-drenched fruit, but they have a balance and minerality often missing in the region’s wines. Vineyard work is excellent, organic and done entirely by hand, and Cristiano avoids the use of additives entirely. He makes this rosato from a second picking of Primitivo grapes.  Fermentation was all done in stainless and was quick (12 hours) at a fairly high temperature with multiple pump overs (not carbonic), giving the wine some texture and tannins from the skin. No sulfur is ever added.  

This is not your picnic rosé – it’s super geeky, bone-dry, more like a skin-contact orange wine, but it is so delicious! It starts off a bit austere, slightly reductive, but give it some air, and it opens up to reveal incredible flavors of ripe yellow peach and mango, soft and plush, opulent and silky. There's also a ton of umami here - salted plums, a whisper of tamari.  It's insane.  Pair with things savory and salty, like anchovies in excellent olive oil, if that's your jam.  Serve chilled but not ice cold, as you would an orange wine, and decant if you're feeling fancy.  This wine loves air.