Ribolla Gialla Venezia Giulia IGT 2015

Gravner | Friuli
Az. Agr. Gravner Francesco | Loc. Lenzuolo Bianco 9 | IT 34070 Gorizia

02160115 · 0,75 l · 132,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping9 units available
Limitation of 2 articles per customer

At the turn of the millennium, Josko Gravner travelled to Georgia, the cradle of viticulture. What he saw there – clay amphorae buried in the ground, filled with grape must left to rest on the skins for months – turned everything he had previously known about wine on its head. Back in Oslavia, on the Slovenian border, he abandoned modern winemaking techniques and started from scratch. Since then, he has not referred to his wines as "orange wine" – a term he considers too trendy. He calls them "amber wines".

The Ribolla grapes from the Dedno vineyard, grown biodynamically using the Alberello system, are gently pressed and transferred to Georgian qvevris, buried deep in the ground and sealed with granite lids. There, spontaneous fermentation begins without any intervention and without the addition of yeasts, with the wine remaining on its skins for seven months. What follows is a process taken at a leisurely pace: a further year in the amphora, then six years in large Slavonian oak barrels, followed by half a year in the bottle before the wine leaves the estate.

An intense, luminous amber-gold colour. On the nose, aromatic herbs, beeswax, apricot and peach jam, oregano, rosemary and a hint of sea water. On the palate, it is dense and textured, with a fine, pronounced tannic structure resulting from the long skin maceration, lively freshness and a seemingly endless, mineral-driven, dry final that lingers with notes of almond and earth. A wine that has taken eight years to reach its full potential. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Ribolla Gialla Anfora 2015 is sweet and seductive, with a complex and intoxicating blend of orange blossom, raw honey, mint leaves, Earl Grey, dried apricots and peaches. On the palate, it is soft and oily, underpinned by a core of lively acidity. The tart fruits of the orchard swirl through the entire wine and are rounded off by a delicious hint of mandarin. The 2015 has an incredibly long finish, spicy and wickedly fresh, with a blend of candied ginger, lemon sorbet, a hint of caramel and exotic flowers. The 2015 is a rich wine full of contrasts and excitement." Vinous

"Showing the beautiful orange color that is a distinctive calling card, the Gravner 2015 Ribolla offers dry and macerated aromas in which the primary fruit plays a background role. Instead, you get canned apricot, plum brandy and dusty clay soil. This elegant Ribolla offers an especially wide and determined mouthfeel in this warm and sunny vintage. If you are a Gravner enthusiast, you'll love the texture and richness of this age-worthy wine. It should be fascinating to see how this wine evolves with bottle age." Wine Advocate

"It is the result of Josko's meticulous, unconventional approach – from the vineyard to the cellar – that makes the 2015 vintage a deep golden wine with an amber hue. Its fascinating nose is rich in aromatic notes such as dried apricots, orange peel and hints of resin. It is full-bodied, with good texture and delicate tannins, displaying lovely acidity and a juicy, mineral finish." Decanter

"Delightful aromas of persimmons and spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, orange peel and a hint of caramel. Honey and apricot. Full-bodied, dry and complex, with notes of dried fruit such as apricots and pears. Botrytis-derived spice. A fine, silky phenolic texture and a flavourful finish. Complex and fascinating. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees Celsius." James Suckling