Wine of the Moment, 2009 Vitiano Rosato
Beth Ribblett
I just love a good juicy, dry rosato on a hot summer night. Really any time of year will do, but I find them particularly satisfying during New Orleans' sweltering months of July and August. The Vitiano wines, made by Falesco in Italy's Umbria region, offer incredible values in their crisp, dry Bianco, beefy Rosso and refreshing Rosato. Owned by the brothers Riccardo and Renzo Cotarella, the goal of the winery is to strike a balance between the uniqueness of native Italian varieties and the versatility and appeal of international grapes.
Equal parts Merlot, Cabernet, and Sangiovese with a little Aleatico thrown in, this wine is a joy to drink. I served it Saturday evening as a perfect accompaniment to my Tagliatelle with Fresh Tomato Herb Sauce and Gulf Shrimp. A lush, crowd pleasing mouthful of red berries with a nice minerality, soft and balanced. Lots of finesse, great with or without food and only $11.99/bottle!
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 88pts. The 2009 Rosato from Vitiano, Riccardo Cotarella’s winery on the Umbria/Lazio border, is ridiculously good for the money. A well-articulated floral bouquet leads to berries, dried flowers and minerals. In 2009 I especially like the way the Rosato balances clarity and richness. This is a harmonious, polished effort from Vitiano. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2011.