“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< 24 units available

In the rolling hills of Buttrio, where the history of Friulian winemaking has been woven into 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’ has become legendary, synonymous with a family tradition that Paolo Meroi, now in the fourth generation, continues to this day. What once began as a small farm with five hectares of Sangiovese (!) – whose wine was sold only in bulk – has long since matured into one of the most respected names in the Colli Orientali.

The Vigna Dominin vineyard is situated at an altitude of around 120 metres, facing south and south-east – an aspect that combines maximum sunshine with the cooling influence of the nearby Alps. The soil is the famous ‘Ponca’, a unique mixture of calcareous marl and sandstone that gives Friuli its mineral character and bears striking similarities to the great Chardonnay terroirs of France. Here, the vines take deep root in fossil-rich subsoil, fighting their way through stony rock and developing the concentration that makes great white wines possible. Paolo Meroi cultivates his vineyard of just under 20 hectares strictly organically, without chemical fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides – a radical minimalist approach in the vineyard, resulting in extremely low yields averaging 25 hectolitres per hectare. The grapes are harvested by hand in early September into wooden crates, sorted and gently pressed. Fermentation and ageing take place for around eight months in French barriques, some new, some used – a controlled use of oak that adds complexity without overpowering the fruit.

It presents a sparkling greenish-yellow colour with golden highlights. The nose is of beguiling intensity: ripe white peach, tropical pineapple, sweet spices and delicate vanilla notes from the oak. On the palate, a creamy, full-bodied texture unfolds with lively acidity, carrying aromas of ripe pear, apple and lemon zest. Hazelnut and mineral notes lend depth, whilst the finish is long, precise and elegant – a world-class Chardonnay that proves why Friuli, alongside South Tyrol, is Italy’s finest region for great white wines. SUPERIORE.DE

"Fragrant sweet citrus and exotic apples on the nose; the creamy palate shows vanilla and ripe pineapple. Elegant." Decanter