A Venetian Rosé
I am rather surprised that after reviewing almost two dozen cheap wines this will our first rosé...Lake Garda Vineyard
Don’t get me wrong, many rosés fall within our $10 limit. Rosés are usually associated with warm weather and in this part of the world spring is still quite far off. What better way to hasten springtime than to drink a bargain rosé wine?
Bardolino is on the southeastern shores of beautiful Lake Garda in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. This is a wonderful place to enjoy life but be careful driving on the local roads. The city of Bardolino hosts the Cura dell’Uva (Grape Cure Festival) in late September-early October. While the natural setting can’t be beat, the local wines tend to be quite pedestrian. The notable exception is Amarone, which is fairly pricey, even if it is made from basically the same local grapes.
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed
Lamberti Bardolino Chiaretto Rosé Classico, 2006 12.5% alcohol about $9.50
Let’s start with the marketing materials. Tasting Note: Light salmon color; inviting aromas of violets and ripe wild strawberries; dry, light-bodied and crisp with flavors of red berries, citrus with hints of cherry and spice; crisp finish. Serving Suggestion: Simple light chicken; pork dishes; grilled shrimp skewers. And now for my review.
I started by sipping this wine alone. I noted very bright acidity. The wine was light. The first meal involved a vegetarian dish composed of onions, zucchini, and red peppers stuffed with rice and lentils. The rosé was lemony and overly acidic. The stuffed red peppers reduced the acidity. The wine became weaker but longer.
The second meal was a chicken breast slow-cooked with soft wheat and shelled peas with a side of a slightly spicy Moroccan style tomato salad. The wine was light and acidic enough to cut the grease but it was too sweet. The sugar didn’t go with anything. When I added a jalapeno pepper mix to the chicken the wine became nicely sour but was still not very flavorful.
The final meal was a Portabello mushroom omelet. The rosé was cheery and moderately long but springtime didn’t hit me in the face as it sometimes does with better rosés. The wine was light but not good enough to be feathery.
I finished the tasting with two cheeses. The first cheese was a Mozzarella. The wine was unobtrusive but its acidity declined. Then I tasted it with a yellow Cheddar. The wine became fresher and more interesting with a note of cherries. After the cheese was gone the wine improved slightly.
Final verdict. I won’t be buying this wine again. It’s hard to get a good Italian rosé in our price range. But I won’t stop looking.
About the Author
Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would
rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario
French-language community college. His wine websites include
www.theworldwidewine.com
and http://www.wineinyourdiet.com
Visit his website devoted to Italian travel
www.travelitalytravel
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