| By :
Levi Reiss
I am somewhat surprised that after reviewing nearly two dozen cheap wines this will our first rose. Don't get me wrong, many roses fall within our $10 limit. Roses are usually associated with warm weather and in this part of the world spring is still quite far off. What better way to hasten springtime than to drink a bargain rose wine? Bardolino is on the southeastern shores of beautiful Lake Garda in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. This is a wonderful place to enjoy life but you must be very careful driving on the local roads. The city of Bardolino hosts the Cura dell'Uva (Grape Cure Festival) in late September-early October. While the natural setting can't be beat, the local wines tend to be quite pedestrian. The notable exception is Amarone, which is fairly pricey, even if it is made from basically the same local grapes. OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price. Wine Reviewed Lamberti Bardolino Chiaretto Rose Classico, 2006 12.5% alcohol about $9.50 Let's start with the marketing materials. Tasting Note: Light salmon color; inviting aromas of violets and ripe wild strawberries; dry, light-bodied and crisp with flavors of red berries, citrus with hints of cherry and spice; crisp finish. Serving Suggestion: Simple light chicken; pork dishes; grilled shrimp skewers. And now for my review. I started by sipping this wine alone. I noted very bright acidity. The wine was light. The first meal involved a vegetarian dish that was composed of onions, zucchini, and red peppers stuffed with rice and lentils. This rose was lemony and frankly, too acidic. The stuffed red peppers reduced the acidity. The wine became weaker but longer. The second meal was a chicken breast slow-cooked with soft wheat and shelled peas with a side of a slightly spicy Moroccan style tomato salad. The wine was light and acidic enough to cut the grease, however it was too sweet. The sugar didn't go with anything. When I added a jalapeno pepper mix to the chicken the wine became nicely sour but it still was not very flavorful. The final meal was a Portabello mushroom omelet. The rose was cheery and moderately long but springtime didn't hit me in the face as it sometimes does with better roses. The wine was light but not good enough to be feathery. I finished the tasting with two cheeses. The first cheese was a Mozzarella. The wine was unobtrusive but its acidity declined. Then I tasted it with a yellow Cheddar. The wine became fresher and more interesting with a note of cherries. Once the cheese was finished the wine improved slightly. Final verdict. I won't be buying this wine again. It's hard to get a good Italian rose in our price range. But I won't stop looking.
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