“Vigna Dominin” Chardonnay Friuli Colli Orientali DOC 2023

Meroi Davino | Friuli
Az. Agr. Meroi | Via Stretta 7/b | IT 33042 Buttrio

02091123 · 0,75 l · 73,33 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping< 24 units available

In the gentle hills of Buttrio, where the history of Friulian viticulture has been engraved in the landscape for centuries, lies the "Dominin" vineyard – named after Domenico Meroi, the great-grandfather who laid the foundations for today's winery in 1920. The nickname "Dominin" became a legend, a synonym for a family tradition that Paolo Meroi is now carrying on in the fourth generation. What once began as a small farm with five hectares of Sangiovese (!), whose wine was only sold openly, has long since matured into one of the most respected names in the Colli Orientali.

The Vigna Dominin site sits at an altitude of around 120 metres, facing south and south-east – an exposure that combines maximum sunshine with the cooling influences of the nearby Alps. The soil is the famous "Ponca", a unique mixture of limestone marl and sandstone that gives Friuli its mineral signature and has astonishing parallels to the great Chardonnay terroirs of France. Here, the vines are deeply rooted in fossil-rich subsoil, fight their way through stony rock and develop the concentration that makes great white wines possible. Paolo Meroi cultivates his almost 20 hectares of vines strictly organically, without chemical fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides – a radical minimalism in the vineyard that results in extremely low yields of 25 hectolitres per hectare on average. The grapes are harvested by hand in early September in wooden crates, selected and gently pressed. Fermentation and ageing take place for around eight months in French barriques, some new, some used – a controlled use of wood that adds complexity without dominating the fruit.

Presents itself in a sparkling green-yellow colour with golden reflections. The nose is of beguiling intensity: ripe white peach, tropical pineapple, sweet spices and delicate vanilla notes from the wood. A creamy, full-bodied texture with lively acidity unfolds on the palate, carrying flavours of ripe pear, apple and lemon zest. Hazelnut and mineral notes add depth, while the finish is long, precise and elegant – a Chardonnay of international class that proves why Friuli is Italy's best region for great white wines alongside South Tyrol. SUPERIORE.DE