Rotari — for those familiar with wine, specifically sparkling wine, you are no stranger to the Rotari name. It is, in fact, part of the larger Mezzacorona group (responsible for other such “name brands” as Stemmari, Nota, Tolloy, and of course Mezzacorona). But sometimes the fun thing about reviewing larger names like Rotari is finding out a bit about the roots of the product, the people behind the bottle, and how even a wine as common-place as Rotari, celebrates an ancient sparkling wine tradition…
About the Wine: The Rotari 2013 Brut is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes harvested from vineyards located along the foothills of the Dolomites mountain range. Here, the foothills are rich with limestone, rocky soils and enjoy an extremely cool climate due to its location between the alps to the North and Lake Garda to the South. Perfect conditions for cultivating crisp Chardonnay grapes and crafting sparkling wine.
*Rotari makes this sparkling wine in the metodo classico. Read more about the traditional method of making sparkling wine: Pop the Cork on Sparkling Wine.)*
Post-harvest, the grapes are de-stemmed and lightly crushed. The must is then cooled and left to settle on the skins for 8 to 10 hours. Following the cold soak maceration, the first free-run juices are collected without any pressing. All vinification takes place in stainless steel without any oak aging. During the initial fermentation in tank, the base wine occassionally goes through re-suspentions of yeasts for 3 to 4 months. The base wines also go through native malolactic fermentation. Following the metodo classico, the second fermentation occurs in bottle for at least 3 months, resting sur lies for a minimum of 2 years.
12.5% ABV
Flavor Profile: Pop the cork of the Rotari 2013 Brut and become immersed in fermenting yeast and the stink of dried pollen. In the glass, the brut is a soft, almost creamy pale yellow with aromas of fresh apples, pears, and cherry blossoms blowing in a spring breeze. Swirl and sniff again to find a bit of wet sand, beachy minerality floating around the edge of the champagne flute.
The palate is full, somewhat textural, with a medium level of acidity that never overwhelms. There’s a certain softness to the wine, almost like the soft, fluffy interior of a freshly baked loaf of bread. Primary flavors are of peaches, apricots, nectarines, and mangos. There’s just a slight hint of smokiness in the back of the palate and during the lingering finish. A beautifully dry sparkling wine with enough levels of flavors and textures that one could easily pair this with a light meal.
More Info: I received the Rotari Brut as a sample for review. (Cheers Megan!) Retail: $19.99. For more information about Rotari, their wines, and to purchase wines directly, please visit the Rotari Trento DOC website.
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