Ilauri Cerasuolo d`Abruzzo `Chiola` Rosé 2021

BACKGROUND

Somewhere between a dark pink and light red wine, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo is the newest DOC of the central Italian region, Abruzzo. The most important element of this is the reduced contact time between the fermenting juice and the red grape skins. This serves to significantly lessen the red pigmentation of the must, resulting in the attractive cherry-like color which is behind the name Cerasuolo (meaning 'cherry' in Italian). While colour is certainly important, bouquet and flavour are inevitably more so. This technique results in wines with a brighter, fruitier taste and which are also lower in tannins. Less soaking time also means less absorption of tannins from the skins, pips and stems. Hard to pronounce, but easy to love. It's pronounced something like Cherashwoolo. But don't take our word for it. Check it out here.

VINEYARD

These vineyards lie in the foothills of Gran Sasso, a mountain which tempers the warmer temperatures of the coastal plain and contributes elegance and finesse in these wines. So often wines from Abruzzo can be commercial and jammy, but here the wines are clean, well defined and delightful. Cerasuolo is native to Abruzzo, in the hands of a good maker it’s noted for its bright, vibrant cherry fruit which this has in spades

WINEMAKING

Following a selective hand harvest in early October, the grapes stalks are removed and the subsequently crushed grapes undergo a traditional temperature controlled fermentation on the skins in stainless steel. On the second day the skins are discarded in order to reap the best perfumes with limited tannin and colour extraction. Subsequently, a cold maceration is applied. The must is further fermented with select yeast in stainless steel temperature controlled stainless steel vats for almost a week at 15-17°C.