4 Comments
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Robert Cripps's avatar

I'm not a fan of malo with rosé simply because it gives the wine a red wine aroma profile. I have had rosés that underwent malo, most notably my first vintage in Rias Baixas where the wine had 12g/l TA before malo! But in time I learnt how to tame that acidity without malo. Trouble is, I did this by using less Caiño and more Espadeiro which; a) is even more expensive than Albariño; b) has rotted before we could pick these past 3 vintages.

(sigh) Makes you wonder if Nature is trying to tell me something?

Meg Maker's avatar

Winemaking is not for the faint of heart!

I worked for a while for Randall Grahm, during which time he made (among many other concoctions) a barrel-fermented rosé, of Mourvèdre, as I recall, that went through at least partial MLF. He called it, pace David Foster Wallace, "A supposedly clever rosé that I'll never make again."

David Mastro Scheidt's avatar

The barrel fermented Rose can be a tricky beast, they go full ML quick. Glad you noted that one.

Meg Maker's avatar

Indeed. I worked for a California winery, Bonny Doon Vineyard, during which time we produced a barrel-fermented rosé. Tricky's a good word!