WINE STORY A hundred years after its founding in 1860 the Chiarli family debuted a new wine, appropriately named "Centenario." It used the Charmat method of effervescent winemaking that Chiarli had introduced to Lambrusco production area a few years earlier. Centenario new wine for a new age showcased the slightly sweeter side of Lambrusco. The wine is amabile, literally "lovable," a designation for wines that are sweet but not so sweet they can only be served with dessert. It's produced with Lambrusco Grasparossa, a grape variety with deep color and high natural acidity that can counter the sugar content. The result is a well-balanced, intense red, soft, lightly effervescent wine that is indeed lovable.
VINEYARDS & VINIFICATION
VINEYARD LOCATION:Cialdini estate (commune of Castelvetro)
ELEVATION:90 meters
SOILS:Alluvial soil with coarse gravel lenses covered by silt
TRAINING SYSTEM:Geneva Double Curtain
FARMING PRACTICES:Phytosanitary defense with integrated pest management
AGE OF VINES: 23 years (planted 1995)
YIELD: Up to 18,000 kg per hectare
GRAPES: 100% Lambrusco Grasparossa
TYPE OF YEAST:Selected
POST-FERMENTATION PROCEDURES:Cold stabilization with lees contact for 1 month, followed by blending
SECOND FERMENTATION:In autoclaves (pressurized tanks)
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION:Partial, in tank before second fermentation
FILTRATION:Crossflow filter
BOTTLE AGING TIME:1-2 weeks
PRODUCTION:55,000 bottles per year
VEGAN:No
TECHNICAL DATA
TOTAL ACIDITY:7 g/l
EXTRACT:18 g/l
ALCOHOL: 8%
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 48 g/l
91 POINTS, James Suckling formally of Wine Spectator. "Lots of rose petals and dark fruit with orange peel. Fruity and flavorful. Fine bubbles. Fresh finish. Delicious. Drink now."