The calendar says summer is over, but it doesn’t mean you should put away your summer palate.
There are still plenty of wonderfully warm and cozy September and October days ahead, so don’t put away the cool sipping rosés and white wines just yet.
Recently, the Mill City Oenophiles Club held its monthly wine-tasting seminar and sampled four wines — three whites and a rosé — that fit the bill for fall and beyond. All agreed the wines were worthy of joining anyone’s refrigerator — a high recommendation from this group of Sun news writers: Amaris Castillo, Chris Lisinski and Rick Sobey.
The all-Italian selections are Fattoria Sardi Rosé, Sassoregale Vermentino and Torresella Pinot Grigio — distributed by Santa Margherita — and Casal Thaulero’s Orsetto Oro Trebbiano. (All prices listed are suggested retail prices.)
The wine. Fattoria Sardi Toscana Rosato 2016, $22: A blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Ciliegiolo is aged on the lees for 4-5 months, enhancing this rosé’s floral aromatics and clean citrus flavors. It glows like a salmon-colored champagne and even had a slight effervescent lift.
What they said. Sobey: “Real smooth, really enjoyable. I would definitely buy this bottle for a nice summer evening.” Lisinski: “Dry, acidic start. Sweet finish with note of strawberry and peach. Very clean. Mineral.” Castillo: “Nice and smooth all the way.”
What the Wine Novice said. “One of the best rosatos I’ve tasted this year. Balanced, refreshing, and artful in the glass.”
The wine. Orsetto Oro Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2015, $8: Casal Thaulero was the first winery in Abruzzo to obtain the 20th-century right to bottle wine with a DOC label. The wine takes its name from the Marsican Brown Bear, which is the symbol of Abruzzo National Park, one of Europe’s top heritage sites. There’s a lot of care and history in this wine, which is a great value at the asking price.
What they said. Sobey: “Packs a punch in the back of the mouth. Long finish.” Lisinski: “Gentle aroma of pear. Silky, medium weight. Balanced by crisp minerality. Goes very well with (white) pizza. A pleasant (Trebbiano).” Castillo: “Taste is far-reaching. Mild pear, green apple and smooth. Longer finish is nice.”
What the Wine Novice said. “Light yellow straw color is appealing. Silky texture sets up a crisp, mineral finish. A good fit for the shrimp scampi pizza.”
The wine. Sassoregale Vermentino Maremma Toscana 2016, $18: This Vermentino rates with the best I’ve tasted from Liguria and the Veneto. I can see Sassoregale (royal stone) winning over the summer set.
What they said. Sobey: “Full-bodied with an explosion of pear and citrus flavors when it hits the tongue. A real standout.” Lisinski: “Clean, crisp, rich, dynamic with weight and a progression of flavors. Green apple, grapefruit, hint of earthiness. Sparkles from start to finish.” Castillo: “A bit salty with a sour apple taste. Almost tangy. But really good!”
What the Wine Novice said. “There was a sensuality to this wine. It stimulated a bright, lively mood. You wanted to sip it again and again.”
The wine. Torresella Pinot Grigio 2015, $16: This wine come from vineyards in the hills of eastern Veneto, between the Tagliamento and Livenza rivers. The clay-soil terroir lends itself to mineral-based wines of enhanced aromatics and taste. This Pinot Grigio doesn’t leave anything behind in the bottle.
What they said. Sobey: “Mild apple nose (gives way) to very sour apple and lemony tastes. A bit too strong on the sour taste for me.” Lisinski: “I detect fresh herbs with the apple and lemon. It’s got a buttery (texture). Sour finish lingers.” Castillo: “A bit sharp with the sour apple and lemon.”
What Wine Novice said. “A Pinot Grigio that grows on the palate. It’s not subtle like most versions, but hits like a quick summer shower of sharp flavors. Tight and bright as an aperitif or to drink at the raw bar with oysters.”
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