L'Archetipo Susumante Rosato NV

Susumante Rosato Brut is a sparkling rosé made from 100% Susumaniello, a rare indigenous red grape of Puglia concentrated primarily in the provinces of Brindisi and Taranto. The wine is produced by L'Archetipo in Castellaneta, in the Murgia area of Apulia. Grapes are harvested by hand in the first week of September.

The method here is not Champagne but Charmat (autoclave): before sugar is fully exhausted, the fermenting must is transferred to a pressurized tank where a second fermentation occurs at 11-12°C. The wine then spends six months in autoclave with continuous battonage on fine lees until natural sparkling stability is reached. It is not filtered, not clarified with fining agents, and receives only a minimal addition of sulfur dioxide before bottling. Total sulfur is 20 mg/l and residual sugar sits at 7 g/l, placing it firmly in the Brut category.

On the nose, the wine shows red cherry, wild strawberry, and light floral notes. The palate is fresh and savory with persistent acidity and a mineral finish. Roughly 8,000 bottles are produced per vintage.