Ciavolich’s Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo is hand-harvested, de-stemmed, crushed, and given 24 to 36 hours of maceration to earn color. Winemaking, with ambient cultures, follows the “salasso” method — Italian for saignée — with some of the must is transferred to terracotta anfora to finish without temperature control. It is bottled unfiltered.
The pale robe is a tawny tea-rose color with amber glints. The wine suggests dried strawberries, dried roses, and sweet tea, and the palate continues this sensibility. The acidity is modest but the tannins feel cooling and serene, carrying a lovely medley of fresh and dried fruits and flowers. A lightly oxidative note is welcome at the finish.
It’s a good partner for mature cheeses. It’s not so heavy that it will overpower, not so light that it can’t stand up, and its time in anfora will tie it to the cheese’s rich aging notes.
2019 Ciavolich Fosso Cancelli Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC
12.5% ABV | $45 (sample); imported by Lyra Fine Wine Import
