INSIDER'S PICK: 2019 CASANOVA DELLA SPINETTA ROSATO TOSCANA (Vinous 92points) $19.99

At a time like this, it's pretty much impossible to be 'normal'. But it is important to try and keep what you can as close to normal as you can while you can. Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount on Thursday and Friday. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.

The Spinetta name has always had a reputation for doing things a little bit differently since they moved from strictly farming to producing their own wines in the late 1970s. From single site Moscato d'Asti to putting modern flair into their red wines, the family has always been willing to step away from the strict traditions and history Italian wines carry. I mean, of all the native art and architecture in Italy, who would turn to a 16th century German woodcarving of a rhinoceros as their label image? Anyway, in 2001 they took their success in the Piedmont to a new production in Tuscany, Casanova della Spinetta, to focus on Sangiovese and other native varieties in this region. One of their consistently greatest successes from this project is this rose, masterfully crafted from Sangiovese and Prugnolo Gentile, the variant of Sangiovese found around the city of Montepulciano and used to make their Vino Nobile. Surprisingly fresh and mineral driven, the nose and palate carry an impressive underlying tone of melon and citrus behind the bright strawberry and cherry skin tones, feeling like it comes from a much cooler climate than Tuscany. The texture is fairly round and mouth-filling, but feels quenching after each sip, lingering with light red fruits and a prickle of acidity. Fans of dry rose in general should find this fun to try as it presents grapes you rarely taste in this form, especially with such obvious quality.  

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