2017 Schiopetto Friulano DOC, Friuli-Venezia Giulia
A$50.00
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Out of stock
SKU
SCHIOFRI17
When in April 2003, Decanter reported the passing of a giant of Italian wine, Mario Schiopetto, they referred to him as "... the man responsible for Friuli's fame as a white wine producing area." Back then, the appreciation and extent of this fame was still confined to a relatively small, discerning and mainly European audience. Mario Schiopetto's focus was to get this little zone in Italy's far north east recognised for fresh, lively, textured and complex whites. He achieved this firstly through a devotion to the vineyards and wines themselves, and by being regarded in the same company as the other emerging bighitters of the Italian wine scene. But his major influence on this region in the 1970's was the pioneering of wine preservation techniques in the wine making process, something lacking in the region - cold and anti-oxidative handling, epitomised by the German handling of Riesling - along with the more 'French' technique of elevating their wines in a careful, more oxidative, texture-building manner.
Today the common thread of the Schiopetto wines is restraint, with definition and layered aromatics, notable textures and a touch of phenolic grip - all underpinned by extensive and vigorous structures along with the much-prized savoury element. They are headlined by a powerful rendition of Pinot Grigio, with elements of smokiness, iced pear and mineral, the gorgeous apricot and musky wildflowers of Ribolla Gialla, but arguably the highlight is their standout white-flowered, nutty almond Friulano. The reds are deep and juicy, with a classy gloss about them; 'Blumeri' is a bend of the indigenous Refosco with Merlot while 'Rivarossa' is a Bordeaux blend of Merlot and Cabernet. All delicious and extremely food-friendly works of art.
Luminous straw-green. Tangerine jelly, candied lime peel, yellow apple and almond on the rich but bright nose. Then ripe and mellow, offering lime and apple flavors that linger nicely on the suave finish. There's sneaky concentration here, but what I like best is the clean delivery of very pure fruit. Not particularly closed for a young Friulano, but the powerful texture and extended finish suggest there's more awaiting ahead.
92+ points Ian D'Agata vinous.com Drink 2020 - 2025
| Product/Service Sold Out | Yes |
|---|---|
| En Primeur | No |
| New Arrivals | No |
| Wine Type | White Wine |
| Wine Style | Traditional |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Friuli-Venezia Giulia |
| Varietals | Friulano |
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Wine Points | 92 |
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