2015 Cieliegiolo

Last night we enjoyed a delightful rosé wine from Bonny Doon Vineyard in California. The 2015 Il Ciliegiolo Rosato Mt. OSO Vineyards Tracy Hills  was 12.4% alcohol and paired well with our dinner. The cherry nuances and crispness was wonderful with outdoor grilled hamburgers and veggies.

The wine was produced with the little known Ciliegiolo grape variety which is better known in Italy.

We were pleasantly surprised by the deep rosé color of the wine. It was a translucent light red color.  This is most likely the deepest color rosé we have tasted. In addition, the wine offered profound cherries nuances on the aroma and taste. The wine was medium-bodied with good acidity. The finish also offered cherry notes.

Enjoy a wine with spring flowers

Terry noted that this wine was “a cherry kool-aid for adults.” It definitely is an easy drinking wine that works well with food and as noted below would pair delightfully with cherry blossom events.

The back label for the Bonny Doon wine said, “Ciliegiolo is a largely unknown and slightly exotic variety, of Tuscan origin, related to Sangiovese (either its parent or its offspring-the science is not yet settled), and possessed of the fleeting perfume of cherries (ciliege). While it can be brilliant as a powerful red, one might argue that it is uniquely well suited to haunt the palate as a fragrant, delicate pink. This is a wine that might appropriately be consumed at a stately cherry blossom festival (local restriction permitting) whilst quietly contemplating the great wonder of it all.”

After enjoying the Ciliegiolo 2015, I was curious about the grape variety and learned that the Ciliegiolo arrived in Italy from Spain in the late 1800s. Today the grape variety is found predominantly in the Tuscany and Umbria regions.

The The 2015 Ciliegiolo Rosato is available through the Bonny Doon Wine Club and is priced at $24.

We greatly appreciate that we were sent the Ciliegiolo Rosato to taste and write about.

When you have the opportunity, check out the online interview with Randall Grahm, owner and winemaker.

Cheers!
Kathy