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