Refosco

Emilio Rotolo's Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso draws you into the glass with its deep, peppery black raspberry flavours, complemented by pretty violet and lavender tones. Wrapping the palate in a cloak of dark, ripe, textured fruit, it is incredibly elegant and polished, but also tangy. A layer of sweet tannins frames the expression and caresses the cheeks, while citrus fruit and a hint of spice linger. This is a very nice wine that will benefit from a slight chill. SUPERIORE.DE

A Friuli classic, here in an expressive interpretation à la Tunella: Refosco combines strength, fruit and regional flavour with a cool elegance. The vines are rooted in the calcareous Ponca soils of the Colli Orientali, which gives the wine structure and finesse. Ripe wild berries, sloe, a hint of violets and black pepper on the nose. Powerful on the palate, with fresh, invigorating acidity, firm tannins and juicy fruit. The vintage brings clarity and drinking pleasure without diluting the serious character of the variety. The finish is characterised by dark fruit, herbal spice and a hint of graphite. A stylistically balanced Refosco that brings origin and typicity to the glass with fine precision. SUPERIORE.DE

This mature Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso comes from the single vineyard "Zuc di Volpe" – a prime example of the ripening potential and aristocratic depth of this autochthonous variety. 2013 was a classic vintage: a cool spring, a moderate summer and a dry autumn allowed a late harvest of perfectly ripe grapes with a distinctive tannic structure and lively freshness. The wine was matured in large wooden barrels and barriques and then allowed to rest in the bottle for many years. Today it displays a multi-layered bouquet of dark cherry, blackberry, graphite, undergrowth and liquorice. Powerful and focused on the palate, with ripe tannins, savoury spice and a characteristic balsamic freshness that characterises the long finish. A hint of dark chocolate and a touch of iron add depth.

In the far north-east of Italy, where the Julian Alps meet the Adriatic Sea, one man once wrote wine history. Livio Felluga, affectionately known as "il contadino" by Luigi Veronelli, is considered the patriarch of Friulian wine culture. His family was already producing Refosco and Malvasia in Istria – when he came to Friuli at the end of the 1930s, he brought this heritage with him. The Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, named after its characteristic red stems, is rooted in the flysch soils of the Colli Orientali, the interplay of marl and limestone that has produced the best red wines here for thousands of years. Twelve months in barriques give the wine depth without masking its origin.

Ronc di Vico's Refosco dal Peduncolo is a wine with rough edges - which is precisely why it is so fascinating. The autochthonous grape variety naturally brings depth, structure and an unmistakable flavour. The grapes come from old plots in the Colli Orientali, whose Ponca soils of marl and sandstone provide clarity and tension. The 2022 vintage offered ideal conditions for fully ripe, healthy harvest. After strict manual harvesting and a long maceration period, the wine matured for around 20 months in French barriques.

An icon of Friuli: "Vigna Dominin" Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso comes from a single vineyard with old vines that are deeply rooted in the typical Ponca soil. Paolo Meroi brings out the best in this demanding, indigenous grape variety with a precision that few winegrowers have mastered. After strict manual harvesting, the wine is matured for 24 months in French barriques and a further year in the bottle before being released in very small quantities.

Ronc di Vico's Refosco dal Peduncolo is a wine with rough edges - which is precisely why it is so fascinating. The autochthonous grape variety naturally brings depth, structure and an unmistakable flavour. The grapes come from old plots in the Colli Orientali, whose Ponca soils of marl and sandstone provide clarity and tension. The 2022 vintage offered ideal conditions for fully ripe, healthy harvest. After strict manual harvesting and a long maceration period, the wine matured for around 20 months in French barriques.

"Calvari" Refosco is Paolo Meroi's masterpiece - a wine that explores the potential of the autochthonous Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso to its limits and is only produced 2-3 times per decade. The grapes come from ancient, tiny, low-yielding vines in a tiny, south-west-facing plot above Buttrio. The barren Ponca soil, strict selection and uncompromising manual labour make this wine a true rarity. The 2020 vintage, characterised by a harmonious vegetation cycle with a balanced sun and rainfall profile, produced perfectly ripe, concentrated berries with exceptional aromatic tension. After manual harvesting and gentle mash fermentation, "Calvari" matured for 24 months in French barriques before maturing for a further two years in the bottle.

Refosco from the smallest vineyard "La Mont di Zuc" impresses on the palate with a complex potpourri of plums, sour cherries, graphite, flowers and minerals. This towering, massive wine remains extraordinarily pristine: in fact, it tastes like biting into a perfectly ripened grape from this very special site! As it progresses, a deep, complex register develops, composed precisely to retain the famous Miani elegance and freshness that can only be achieved with the utmost care in the vineyard and cellar. SUPERIORE.DE