Pico Maccario Lavignone Rosato 2022

True, the French make great rosé, but so do the Italians. And in many wine regions where they make big, bold-drinking red wines—like Puglia, Brunello and Barolo—the rosé or rosato as many Italians call it becomes a bit of a speciality. Hand-crafted, tenderly loved through the winery, and released at the perfect moment of ample fruit expression and delicious crispness on the pallet. Why? Because many of those big, bold red wine regions are also hot in the summer (or year round), and what better way to beat the heat than with chilled rosato?

 

Such is the case with the brothers Maccario. Invested in Piemonte, they mostly make full-bodied, powerful Barberas. But in this case, with their Lavignone Rosato, they are using the Barbera grape to produce something undeniable - fresh, crisp, thirst-quenching rosato, all at the same time being complex, vivid and zesty. It’s like the ultimate fioritura - an embellishment of the main wines of the estate, and with that embellishment, a lighthearted departure that eases us into carefree dégagé. 

 

The nose of Pico Maccario’s Lavignone Rosato opens with beautiful aromas of freshly washed strawberries, fully ripened cranberries, notes of black cherry and just a hint of rosemary. On the palate, it’s evident that this is from robust grapes – it has a satisfying weight to it, but at the same time, it’s crisp and vibrant, and ever-refreshing. It’s perfect as a cocktail but consider this – roast a bianco pizza over the grill (or simply order one up) and then serve it with this. A stunning picnic twist! And oh so easy. 

 

Cheers!