2020 Rioja Rosado - Marqués de Cáceres

A charmingly pretty and layered display brimming with crushed strawberry, pineapple, juicy watermelon, and peach effortlessly radiates with captivating delicateness and depth while remaining brilliantly thirst-quenching and fun. Notes of hydrangeas, white carnations, and rose hips gently impart wafts of dainty floral character that rise above understated herbal and spiced notes of eucalyptus and nutmeg. Intriguing earthy tones of crushed limestone and dry soil persistently make their presence felt ahead of a long and clean finish laden with delicious saline minerality. Delightfully dry, fresh, and bright on the palate while maintaining surprising savoriness and complexity; exhibiting a well balanced and unexpectedly serious presentation that comes across as interesting and multidimensional yet still thoroughly refreshing. Medium-plus bodied and packed with elevated acidity. This 2020 Rioja Rosado by Marqués de Cáceres is a characterful and unique rosé from Spain.

Although primarily famous as the source of some of Spain's most elegant and highly complex red and white wine, the region of Rioja is also permitted to produce rosé wines which can be equally as noteworthy and delicious as their red and white counterparts. This bottling, crafted by Marqués de Cáceres using 96% Tempranillo/4% Garnacha grown within Rioja, beautifully showcases why rosé from this legendary region deserves to be appreciated and taken seriously. This playfully gushes with bursts of fresh and juicy berry, melon, stone, and even tropical fruits yet is not entirely fruit-driven, as fresh herbs, bright florals, and limestone-rich earthiness all contribute layers of non-fruit complexity. This is an easy drinking yet still contemplative creation that is sure to please novice and advanced drinkers alike, and will also pair wonderfully with a wide range of summer dishes. Exceptional.