Wines from Friuli

Sauvignon Bianco Casa Rossa is pleasantly floral with nuances of camomile and freshly cut pear. Its soft texture is balanced by a zesty acidity, while candied ginger balances green apples and a hint of nectarine. The finish is long, structured and floral, with a hint of candied lime and salty minerals that linger to the smoky final. Casa Rossa is a pleasure bomb, but perfectly balanced. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Sauvignon Vigneto Zitelle Casa Rossa 2021 needs time to open up. It is dusty and floral with aromas of gravel, dried flowers and nectarines that slowly unfold in the glass. It is silky to the touch, with an admirable weight balanced by fresh acidity. Vibrant green apple and melon sweep across the palate, leaving a hint of minerality. The 2021 folds in on itself on the finish, youthful yet with a saturation of primary concentration that lingers. A tart lemon peel note keeps me reaching for the glass to drink more. The Zitelle Casa Rossa has a lot to say, but you have to be patient. This is an absolutely stunning Sauvignon. This is the first vintage of Casa Rossa from a Zitelle parcel with significantly more active limestone in the soils. It is an absolute flagship." Vinous

Sauvignon Bianco Casa Rossa comes from a parcel of the Zitelle with significantly more active limestone in the soil. The bouquet is pleasantly floral with nuances of camomile and freshly cut pear. Its soft texture is balanced by a zesty acidity, while candied ginger balances green apples and a hint of nectarine. The finish is long, textured and floral, with a hint of candied lime and salty minerals that linger through to the smoky final. Casa Rossa is a firework of impressions, but always perfectly balanced. SUPERIORE.DE

Light, pale golden yellow colour. Sexy aromas of tangerine, honeysuckle, crystallised ginger, minerals, apple pie and puff pastry. Big, rich and deep with impeccable balance and a very precise, multi-layered quality. The finish is long and luscious. Zitelle Durì (only 1,000 bottles) is a very special expression of a single vineyard. It achieves an impressive balance between aromatic intensity and texture. SUPERIORE.DE

Rich and refined top cuvée from the white grape varieties of Friuli. The bouquet of white flowers and yellow fruit has a pleasantly smoky note. Opulent flavours of yellow and white fruits, dried apricots and honey on the palate, the balanced acidity provides backbone and structure. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling straw yellow with delicate nuances of green. Stone fruit, peach and some apricot on the nose, subtle flint notes and a hint of vanilla. Powerful on the palate, lively acidity, delicate phenolics, mouthwatering finish." Falstaff

"Clean and mineral, with a saline undertone and vibrant flavours of freshly sliced apples and pears, blanched almonds, almond blossom and a hint of ground white pepper. Fresh, chalky finish." Wine Spectator

"The 2019 Abbazia di Rosazzo is more delicate and nuanced, with dusty dried flowers, crushed almonds and sweet smoke on the nose. It feels silky yet almost weightless and floats on the palate with a savoury mix of white stone fruits and inner flowers. It leaves a hint of minerality and finishes with a beautiful tension that leaves flinty notes of liquid stone and Bosc pear. The Abbazia di Rosazzo is an understated beauty." Vinous

"This wine has definitely moved into tertiary aroma territory. With a deep, off-gold color and orange highlights, the Livio Felluga 2019 Rosazzo Abbazia di Rosazzo shows aged tones of preserved lemon, candied orange peel, dried guava and sweet almond. Fermentation is in stainless steel, and the wine sees some aging in large oak casks. There are mild white-wine tannins and a hint of peppermint to close." Wine Advocate

"Fascinating aromas of ash, wet stones, dried apples, hints of honey and flint. Tar. Full-bodied with great density and energy. Framed and firm. Vine bark with mushrooms. Reserved. Old vines. 80 to 100 years old." James Suckling

Soft, generous red wine with beautiful notes of red fruits, sweet spices and delicate herbs, all coming together in a medium-bodied, terroir-driven style. The wine offers excellent depth, a long, elegant finish and an inspiring overall harmony. SUPERIORE.DE

Deep ruby red colour. Bright, fresh and savoury aromas and flavours of blueberries, flint, coffee and fresh herbs. Long and clean with soft tannins and very good clarity on the bright finish. A beautiful, very refined wine, characterised by its early attractiveness, but also by its velvet-pawed concentration and complexity. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2019 Rivarossa, a blend of Cabernet and Merlot, takes its time to evolve in the glass. It's coy at first, with hints of dried black cherry. Swirling slowly unlocks depths of sage and exotic spice. This displays silky textures as a polished wave of red and black fruits swirls across a stream of zesty acidity. The 2019 slowly saturates the palate in youthful concentration, along with fine-grained tannins, while finishing long, structured and leaving a pleasant bitter tinge. There is potential here, yet it will require serious patience to unlock." Vinous

"Raspberry, blackcurrant bush and bark on the nose. Also some pencil. Full-bodied, but not overwhelming, with linear and polished tannins that run the length of the wine. Very solid and structured, but with a certain openness on the finish." James Suckling

Elegant and fruity grape spirit made from Müller Thurgau grapes from Trentino. Scents of apricots and apples, elegant and fine-fruity taste, floral hints in the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Nonino celebrates the 25th anniversary of the ÙE grape brandy with the outstanding Riserva ÙE 25th Anniversary - an assemblage of separately distilled grape brandies from Ribolla, Moscato, Merlot and Malvasia, which matured for five years in barriques or small wooden barrels. Golden yellow colour, elegant bouquet of vanilla, caramel and nut. On the palate a wonderfully deep grape aroma, very long and soft. Without the addition of dyes. SUPERIORE.DE

"Very floral and fruity in fragrance, muscaty-grapey, chocolaty and dried fruit aromas in the background. On the palate complex wood aromas, as well as chocolaty sweetness, spicy in the finish." Falstaff

Pale straw yellow in colour. Offers very fruity aromas of pear, peach and apricot. Fresh, lively and dense on the palate, with lively acidity that frames and lifts the flavours of orange peel, apricot, lemongrass and resin. The finish is youthful, silky and long. A classic Friulano with real depth and a true essence of pear. Very long and lively, with subtle fruit sweetness on the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Antica Cuvée - here in the high alcoholic dosage form "Cask Strength" - is a fine, very aromatic Riserva. Nonino uses the traditional still for distillation. The inviting clear amber colour is the result of storage in small barrels. A very special note is given to the cuvée by the small but essential addition of young grappa, which has matured for a year in Limousin barriques. Fruity, warm, velvety and long-lasting. SUPERIORE.DE

Clear grape spirit from ripe, freshly harvestedCabernet Franc grapes. Typical grassy bouquet, slightly aromatic on the palate with notes of green and black pepper. SUPERIORE.DE

Since the 2016 vintage, Livio Felluga's top wine Sossò has been maturing in the bottle for an extra year before being released for sale. This Riserva is a beautifully rich and comforting red wine that is dense on the palate, imparting pretty cherry and dark fruit flavours with plenty of spice and tobacco. The extremely articulate flavour shoulders a convincing tannin portion and yet steers into an intensely fruity final with terrificlength. The wine simply glides forward with its unique feel and a dynamism that is slow and long-lasting. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright ruby colour with hints of purple. Hearty, fruity bouquet of juicy plums and cherries, plus liquorice, tobacco leaf and black pepper. Fresh but with tension on the palate, with bold fruit and very well-integrated tannins, very harmonious and long." Falstaff

"An opulent wine with multi-layered complexity. On the nose, there are fresh plums, black cherries, pressed flowers and leather. On the palate, graphite, medium body, crisp acidity and light but taut tannins that are soft at first and then chalky." James Suckling

Dark ruby, spicy blackberry bouquet with herbal and delicate toasted aromas, underpinned with a fine note of noble wood. On the palate, expansive, deep and of complex texture, present, well-integrated tannins, well-balanced and of excellent length. SUPERIORE.DE

Also from Bruttrio, like the Friulano Buri Bellaria, comes the almost pure top Merlot from the Palazzolo family. The vines of the vineyard, which was formerly cultivated by Miani, are almost 100 years old and regularly produce grapes of great complexity and very fine tannins, which, however, require at least two years of ageing and refinement before the wine is bottled unfiltered. But then the wine embarks on a journey that could not be more exciting and rewarding. On the nose, we find violet flowers and lots of blue and black berries, rounded off with savoury herbs and spices. A remarkably silky, almost floating red that leads into a never-ending, fusiose final with fleshy berries, minerals and herbs. SUPERIORE.DE

"A smoky blend of wild berries, grilled herbs and crushed stone introduces the 2021 Rosso Buri Bellaria. This is seamlessly silky yet youthfully slender with a wave of mineral-drenched red and blue fruits that flow across a stream of cooling acidity. It leaves a tart concentration to linger along with grippy tannins. Licorice hints add a pleasantly bitter tinge. Patience will be necessary as the 2021 is wound up tight in its youthful state." Vinous

Deep ruby red. Bright, fresh and savoury aromas and flavours of blueberries, flint, coffee and fresh herbs. Long and clean with soft tannins and very good clarity on the bright end. A beautiful, very refined wine with early appeal but also velvet paws creeping concentration and complexity. SUPERIORE.DE

"A delicate blend of smoky sage, wild blueberries, cracked chalk and dried violets makes the 2018 Rivarossa a total pleasure to take in. This is silky and cool-toned with a balanced inner sweetness that offsets its tart wild berry fruits as peppery herbal tones amass toward the close. The Rivarossa tapers off structured with edgy tannins that pinch at the cheeks as a note of black licorice lingers on and on. A lot is going on beneath the surface here, but it will be several years before the 2018 comes entirely into focus." Vinous

"Lovely blackberries, violets and blueberries with hints of dark chocolate. Medium to full body with creamy, polished tannins and a flavourful finish." James Suckling

Dottore Palazzolo, the red dedicated to the founder, made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, opens in deep ruby red and with the scent of ripe berries, a hint of vanilla, tobacco and black tar. Beguiling, rich in extract and concentrated with herbs and wild berries, yet full of elegance, with fine citrus acidity and wonderfully firm on the palate. Our tip: Be patient and allow this exceptional wine a few more years of bottle ageing! SUPERIORE.DE

"Savory in the glass, the 2020 Rosso del Gnemiz lifts up with dusty florals and earth tones before giving way to dried black cherries. This is pure elegance, lifted and refined, with crisp red and black fruits accelerated by brisk acidity. It finishes classically dry and with fine tannins that frame the wine perfectly, tapering off with amazing length and clarity, leaving peppery florals to linger." Vinous

Also from Bruttrio, like the Friulano Buri Bellaria, comes the almost pure top Merlot from the Palazzolo family. The vines of the vineyard, which was formerly cultivated by Miani, are almost 100 years old and regularly produce grapes of great complexity and very fine tannins, which, however, require at least two years of ageing and refinement before the wine is bottled unfiltered. But then the wine embarks on a journey that could not be more exciting and rewarding. On the nose, we find violet flowers and lots of blue and black berries, rounded off with savoury herbs and spices. A remarkably silky, almost floating red that leads into a never-ending, fusiose final with fleshy berries, minerals and herbs. SUPERIORE.DE

Dottore Palazzolo, a red wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot and dedicated to the founder, opens in a deep ruby red colour and with the aroma of ripe berries, a hint of vanilla, tobacco and black tar. Beguiling, full of extract and concentrated flavours of herbs and wild berries, yet full of elegance, with fine citrus acidity and wonderfully firm on the palate. Our tip: Be patient and allow this exceptional wine a few more years to mature in the bottle! SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark depths of exotic spices, dried flowers and crushed stone complement musky redcurrants and rose petals as the aromatically stunning 2021 Rosso del Gnemiz Dott. Palazzolo swells from the glass. It flows across the palate with silky, polished texture and crisp wild berries, gaining energy from a core of brilliant acidity, while salty minerals saturate towards the end. The finish is cool and fresh, but also full of tension, leaving a hint of primary concentration and fine-grained tannins that linger." Vinous

Great wine that boasts enormous depth and intensity. Velvety and rich, the aromas are reminiscent of dried berries, toasted oak and fine chocolate, with breathtaking power and fullness on the palate, the pure tension and beauty of Refosco. SUPERIORE.DE

"Deep dark opaque garnet purple. Shows rich and precise notes of wild berries, blackberries, elderberries, light mint and precious wood on the nose, complex. Polished and tightly meshed on the palate, spreads out in a lush and decisive way, cool fruit with precise progression, supported by excellent use of wood, lingers long." Falstaff

"This is really nicely done, showing black fruit, such as blackberry, as well as dark chocolate and spice. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm tannins and a flavorful finish. Some smoky oak at the end." James Suckling

"The 2016 Refosco Vigna Dominin is airy and dusty in character, as peppery florals and hints of licorice give way to dried black cherries. Its silky textures usher in a potent mix of red and black fruit with savory penetrating spice and violet-tinged florals that form toward the close. It leaves the palate with a coating of sweet tannins and lingering minerals, as hints of spiced tangerine and pomegranate fade. This is a powerful effort with the depth to balance. I’m looking forward to retasting it with a few years of maturity." Vinous

Terre Alte Rosazzo is made from Tocai Friulano, Pinot Bianco and Sauvignon Bianco. It is a spice bomb that seduces with a beguiling blend of flint, dried flowers and ginger, balanced by vividly ripe nectarines. Terre Alte washes over the palate with an opulent, textured wave of mineral fruits and savoury spices, while taking on a citrus-derived tension towards the finish. The finish is long and floral, with tart fruit and wild herbs complemented by a hint of lemon custard. The balance, but also the depth of its character and personality are almost unreal - a beguiling, very great Italian white wine! SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright straw yellow with green-gold reflections. Very fresh nose of fresh hay, green apple and gooseberry, then hints of exotic fruit. Silky and broad on the palate with juicy fruit of peach and pineapple, very juicy, balanced and long on the finish." Falstaff