This slightly unusual rosé from Piemonte, Italy, has what so many rosés are missing: texture and character. And as you’ve probably already guessed it’s a natural wine, hence the label. La Lupa is wonderfully nuanced, fruity and spicy. The wine is refreshing and yet textured. It has body and a bit of oomph is what I’m hinting at. In many ways this wine is more of a very light red than a dark rosé, if that makes any sense?

The most common rosé you come across seems to be those light pink ones with an orange hue, most commonly from Provence or in the style of Provence rosé. They’re great in their own way, for sure, but can after a while seem a bit bland. I think it’s a great compliment to a warm summer’s day, don’t get me wrong, but yeah. A bit boring.. So La Lupa here sailed in as smoothly as a summers breeze and added texture and character to the matter, and for that I’ll be forever grateful. 

The short story

Color: dark blueish pink

On the nose: spice, red cherries, raspberries, bayleaf

Flavor profile: nuanced, spice, red cherries, raspberries, bayleaf

Tannin: medium

Acidity: medium plus

ABV: 12%

Grape: Dolcetto

Agriculture: Biodynamic

Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation on steel tanks, second fermentation on big bottis, nothing added, bottling after 4 months, no clarification or filtering, minimal amouns of sulfites added