2008 Caletta Costa di Nugola IGT

From one of Italy's most renowned wine producers comes this flavourful rosato made, unusually, from Merlot grapes.

This Frescobaldi estate lies a few kilometres from Livorno on the Mediterranean coast and covers 127 hectares, of which 92 are under vine.
Cypresses dot the vineyards, which were re-planted to high densities in 2002, utilising the most up-to-date viticultural technologies. The soils are of various types, with a predominating reddish sand of marine origin which is iron-rich known as Sabbie di Nugola. The warm, dry climate, and particularly the beneficial marine breezes combine to enable Costa Di Nugola to produce wines of unequalled quality, appealingly complex with distinctive aromas of Mediterranean macchia, or scrubland.

Tasting Notes
Colour a brilliant deep pink with attractive ruby highlights. A rich, full nose releases generous, long-lingering scents of tropical fruits: mango, pineapple, and white peach. The wine is rich and full-bodied in the mouth, with superb overall balance.

Matching
Delicious when paired with fish-based antipasti, soups, boiled meats, and vegetable flans.

Winemaking Notes
Merlot grapes harvested by hand at the end of September. Fermentation in stainless steel vats at controlled temperature of 25°C (77° Fahrenheit) for 10 days. Length of maceration on the skins: 12 days. No malolactic fermentation. Length of maturation: 4 months in steel and 1 month in bottle.