Friends & Fans of City Wine:
In the NE corner of Italy, bordering Slovenia and Austria, is one of the great wine regions of Italy: FRIULI. This week's tasting (yes, we are back!) will feature 4 wines from this region, known for perhaps Italy's "best white wines". Here, the grapes are Tocai Friulano, Picolit, Ribolla Gialla, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, and you will also find red wines from Cab Franc, Merlot and the esoteric Schiopettino. We will taste 2 excellent examples of reds and whites.
You will also get a chance to meet City Wine's new Somm, Rich O'Connor in the tasting room!
Saturday Jan 10
2-4 p.m.
no charge
We will Taste:
2013 Venica Pinot Grigio "Jesera"
Jesera means "little lake" in Slovenian (the name of the vineyard). This hails from the hillsides of the Collio DOC in Friuli. A Pinot Grigio, for a change, with a PERSONALITY, it has some copper color from the skin maceration, body, and intriguing flavors of pear, quince with Acacia flower aromas.
2013 Vigneti Le Monde Pinot Bianco
One of our recent finds, this one from the DOC of "Grave". This wine has some body, perfect winter-weight white, with complexity. This wine has won the coveted Gambero Rosso "Tri Bicchieri" award. It will "wow" you, or Kirk will personally drink your sample.
2012 Ronchi di Pietro Schioppettino
From Friuli Colli Orientali DOC, we love this red for its exotic wild berry and earthy characteristics, plus its balance. This is an indigenous grape from the region also known as RIBOLLA NERA.
2012 Vigneti Le Monde Cabernet Franc
This grape is the father of Cabernet Sauvignon... but it is lighter, more aromatic, more refined... like a good dad. While it is lighter in body, and lithe in spirit, it still has personality... and none of the "green" qualities you can get from this varietal in France. Herbal, aromatic, no wood. A lovely expression of this grape!
2007 Vistorta Merlot
Some bottle age, this will give you a chance to see a mature Friulian Merlot! "An aromatic red, displaying prominent notes of black licorice snap, crushed pine needle and dried herb on the nose and palate, along with flavors of dried currant, candied blackberry, tobacco and graphite. This is well-structured, ending with a lingering, smoky finish."
