Piana dei Castelli – Out Pink 2013

Piana dei Castelli’s 2013 Out Pink is made of 50% Cesanese and 50% Montepulciano, from a vineyard at 300 meters altitude to the south of Velletri. The vines are grown on siliceous clay and were harvested manually in first week of August. After destemming, the grapes were crushed and cold-macerated with their skins for 48 hours in cement tanks. Fermentation took place with indigenous yeasts, without any additions. It was then aged 24 months, again in cement tanks, and bottled unfiltered.

The 2013 Out Pink has a deep salmon colour with garnet hues. It has a nose with aromas of strawberries, blueberry, popcorn and spices. On the palate it’s medium-bodied, juicy and fresh, with loads of zippy red fruit and a touch of iodine. Sublime when paired with oysters and other seafood, especially sushi.

About Piana dei Castelli

Located in the comune of Velletri, southeast of Rome in Lazio’s Alban Hills, Matteo Ceracchi and Nicoletta De Angelis run Piana dei Castelli. The couple farm a mosaic of vineyards, spread over eleven different municipalities, at various altitudes and with varying soil types – although mostly volcanic, rich in basalt and tuff. Although Ceracchi is a classically trained oenologist, they work decidedly natural – eschewing synthetic chemicals in their biodynamically farmed vineyards and excess intervention in the cellar. It leads to adventurous, unpredictable wines that express character and a clear sense of place.