The Wine of the Week: Fattoria di Artimino Rosato di Carmignano Vin Ruspo DOC 2003

Vin Ruspo means "stolen wine," and was made by the sharecroppers of Carmignano, not far from Florence, who would take the day's last load of grapes home, stand the hopper in a tub, and keep the must that trickled out during the night (the grapes went to the landlord in the morning). Since Sangiovese grapes are red, the wine the farmers "stole" is a rosé. Of course that was a while ago; now the farmers own the land, and continue to make Vin Ruspo both for tradition's sake and because it can be quite refreshing.
Artimino's Vin Ruspo is pale salmon with rose reflections and white rim. The bouquet is fairly intense, with raspberries and some bramble mingled with underbrush. On the palate it's full, and lively, with bright raspberry fruit supported by a slight peppery burr and by deft acidity that gains fullness from some sweetness as well; and flows into a clean bright raspberry finish. Graceful, and will work quite nicely with cold cuts, lesser grilled meats, and fried foods; it will also work with pizza, but only one that's well made and worth taking note of. Expect the bottle to go quickly.
(Drawn from the Italian Wine Review) On tasting wines, and how to organize a tasting.