Have you ever tasted Rosato wines from the Abruzzo region of Italy? 2018 Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo by Agricola Tiberio is a lovely example from this region.
Did you know that Rosé wines from this region are so distinguished that Italians created Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC (Denomination of Controlled Origin) to regulate the production? It’s ranked among the top three Rosé regions of Italy!
According to the DOC rules, Rosé wines based on Montepulciano grape. But don’t confuse this grape with the Tuscan town of Montepulciano. Different grape, a different wine, and different regions!
In pursuit of the lighter and more vibrant style which sets Cerasuolo wines apart, a particular winemaking technique is employed. The most essential element of this is the reduced contact time between the fermenting juice and the red grape skins. Despite that, Cerasuolo is among the most intense colored Rosé wines you can find thanks to Montepulciano’s ink-like pigmentation properties. Short juice contact with skin also results in wines with a brighter, fruitier taste and which are also lower in tannins.
What’s on the Label
Let’s start at Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo. Abruzzo is the South Eastern Italian region on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. While geographically small, it rivals Tuscany in wine production.
Cerasuolo is how the locals traditionally call rosé wine. The name originates from the typical cherry (cerasa) color of the rosato itself.
Winery
The story of Tiberio Agricola is a cross between New World and Old World. It started in 2000 when Riccardo Tiberio found an old plot of vines roughly 60 years old so impressive that he decided to change his and his family’s destiny. As the first vintage was released in 2004, the wine lovers took notice of Tiberio’s mineral whites and fruit-forward reds.
In 2008, Riccardo passed the baton to his highly competent children, daughter Cristiana, and son Antonio. Antonio is responsible for vineyards while Cristiana handles the winemaking duties.
Tiberio Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo 2018 Tasting Notes
In the Bottle
Tiberio Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo 2018 is a 100% Montepulciano although DOC rules allow up to 15% of blending partners. The grapes come from 55-year-old vines located at 1,200 feet elevation. Why does it matter?
Older vines produce fewer bunches, and it helps to concentrate flavors. Higher elevation helps the grapes to retain acidity, and it’s a key to successful Rosé. The grapes were hand-harvested in October.
Cristiana used only free-run juice, and grapes were never pressed. Then it’s fermented in stainless steel tanks without malolactic fermentation to retain fruitiness and brightness of the wine. These techniques help to produce the cleanest expression of the Montepulciano from Tiberio Estate.
In the Glass
Tiberio Cerasuolo has a bright cherry-pink color. The color reminded us of some lighter Pinot Noirs.
Aromas
There were some expected aromas from rosé, such as raspberry and sour cherry. The touch of smoke and moss were while unexpected and added more complexity to the bouquet.
Flavors
The red berry theme continues on the palate with ripe cherry, crushed raspberry, and a touch of the cherry pit.
Conclusion
2018 Tiberio Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo is in the category of its own when it comes to Rosé. While it has some commonality with dry style rosé from other regions, it has its own pronounced cherry character in color, aromas, and flavors.
It can pair well with quintessential Italian pizza and pasta as well as all American burger. We can see ourselves taking it to a picnic with friends and uniting the red wine club with the white one.
