Hot and sometimes scorching weather as well as high humidity on the east coast the last few weeks has had me reaching for Rosé's to sample more often than usual. La Scolca in Piedmont sits on a 62 acre estate. Their winemaking tradition dates back over 90 years when they started making Gavi. That region was granted DOC status in 1974, followed by DOCG in 1998. Today I’ll look at their current release of Rosé.
The La Scolca 2009 Rosa Chiara Rosato was produced from fruit sourced in the Piedmont region of Italy. In addition to local standby Cortese (95%), a small amount of Pinot Noir (5%) was blended in. This wine was fermented in stainless steel and had minimal skin contact to extract sufficient color. The suggested retail price for this wine is $16.
A bright, effusive nose is lead by read cherry in droves and followed by wisps of jalapeno. Strawberry, continued cherry, spice and a dollop of crème fraiche are all present throughout the palate of this dry Rosé along with vibrant Red Delicious Apple notes. The savory leaning trio of sour cherry, pomegranate and cranberry mark the finish. This wine is both crisp and refreshing and it shows off solid acidity.
This 2009 wine is a fine example of the types and styles of Rosé typical to Piedmont. This is a good choice to either sip by itself on a hot summer day or pair with lighter foods. In either case you'll find it to be fresh, delicious and quite inviting. If you’re planning an outdoor event this summer, here is an offering you’ll want to consider chilling down to satisfy the masses.