2022 ChevernyDomaine du Salvard
France | Loire
$22
Producers
Until recently, Molise was one with Abruzzo, and in fact this rosato, with its deep, yet incredibly vibrant color, is not unlike a great Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo in style. Aged in concrete tank with the addition of a 500L tonneau to round things out, it offers an absolutely electric perfume loaded with bright notes of pomegranate, sour cherry, and fresh strawberry, while the palate delivers bracing acidity and a chiseled, chalky finish. This beautiful southern rosato is certainly thirst-quenching, but also fairly serious, with well-defined structure and the ability to pair with a wide range of dishes, especially summer produce, seafood, tomatoes, and grilled meats and vegetables.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | Rosé |
Vintage: | 2021 |
Bottle Size: | 1L |
Blend: | 85% Montepulciano, 10% Aglianico, 10% Tintilia |
Country: | Italy |
Region: | Molise |
Producer: | Steiger-Kalena |
Winemaker: | Giulio Steiger |
Vineyard: | Planted in 2016, 12 ha total |
Soil: | Clay, limestone |
Aging: | Ages about 8-9 months in large concrete casks |
Farming: | Organic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 12.5% |
Italy’s second-smallest region by surface area and population, Molise is a mountainous enclave tucked along the Adriatic Sea between Abruzzo to the north and Puglia to the south. Its western side, bordering Campania, consists of Apennine peaks that gradually descend toward the coastline. With a range of climate zones from Mediterranean along the Adriatic to continental in the higher inland areas, with temperate foothills in between, there is great potential for fine wine production in Molise.
While winemaking here predates the Roman Empire, the region’s isolation and mountainous nature has prevented it from achieving the productivity or commercial success of some of its neighbors. The first commercial bottlings date back to the 1970s near the coast, and in the 1990s more independent producers began popping up, but without really focusing on quality. Molise still has a high proportion of home winemakers who vinify for familial consumption relative to other regions, although in recent years some newer producers have made a concerted effort to create serious wine on a commercial scale. Steiger-Kalena, the first and only Molise producer to grace KLWM shelves, is an exciting example of this shift toward quality, and a delightful demonstration of what is capable in this secluded region.
Steiger-Kalena Italy | Molise
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La Marca di San Michele Italy | Le Marche | Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi
Grottafumata Italy | Sicily | IGT Terre Siciliane
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