Ciavolich Fosso Cancelli Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOP 2022

Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOP, Italy

James Suckling 93 points! Vinous 90 points! (on the 2021 vintage)

Ciavolich Fosso Cancelli Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOP is a beautiful food-friendly rosato (rosé) of 100% Montepulciano from Italy’s Abruzzo region. The name of the winery is Ciavolich Azienda Agricola. The Ciavolichs were Bulgarian wool merchants who, in 1500, arrived in Miglianico, where, in 1853, the family constructed their first wine cellar, which is one of the most ancient winemaking buildings in Abruzzo. Today the family winery is owned and run by Chiara Ciavolich and her husband Gianluca. We first met Chiara at our shop in October 2016 and immediately fell in love with her wines!

Entirely hand-harvested, the wines of Ciavolich reflect the time honored, traditional winemaking techniques of Abruzzo. The harvest took place in early October. The grapes were pressed and left to ferment in the old concrete vats. Then it was the turn of the “salasso” in amphora, with the inocula­tion of indigenous yeasts, where the tumul­tuous fermentation continued. Finally, the wait until April.

This year the Cerasuolo is clear, raspberry red, it still carries with it the scents of poma­ce and rose hips and, more deeply, its indi­sputable wild character. Fresh and savory, the past torrid season does not seem to have affected anything of its body. 4,000 bottles produced and numbered on the label.

“Candied-cherry and wa­termelon character. Medium-bodied, fresh and vivid with depth and intensity. Creamy texture.”—James Suckling, 93 points! (on the 2021 vintage)

Enjoy Ciavolich Fosso Cancelli Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo over the next 8-10 years with orate alla griglia (grilled sea bream), stew with potatoes and cherry tomatoes, veal with tomatoes and parmesan.