Borgo del Tiglio

The Ponca stretches from the north-east of Udine to the south of Istria in Croatia. The part closest to the winery, which formed in the northernmost bays of the lagoon, lies on the current border between Italy and Slovenia. More precisely, it is divided between two countries, three provincial governments and four protected designations of origin from the Collio, the Colli Orientali del Friuli, the Brda and the Vipava. Initially, with the help of a few Slovenian friends and colleagues, they only experimented with Merlot grapes, but now the grapes are vinified in their own cellar. SUPERIORE.DE

The Collio Bianco is a beautiful, exciting and balanced wine. One should always bear in mind that drinking pleasure is exactly what this wine is supposed to achieve. We find that it has achieved its goal with flying colours. The bouquet smells of honeydew melon, freshly picked Granny Smith apples and crushed mussels. It is the ideal wine to enjoy as an aperitif while watching the sun go down. SUPERIORE.DE

Nicola Manferrari's Malvasia exudes a delicate, floral bouquet of white rose, honeysuckle and star jasmine. Any excessive sharpness of these floral scents is tempered by dusty nuances of minerals and broken sandstone. A pretty and delicate wine with the inner texture and fibre of a summer peach picked straight from the orchard. SUPERIORE.DE

Chalk dust, savoury herbs and lemon oil form the pretty bouquet of the Sauvignon Blanc. Silky and smooth on the palate with a pretty and balanced inner sweetness, while ripe stone fruit and flowers develop. It leaves behind a mineral colour and shows its acidic core in the final with an exciting and palate-flattering blend of concentration and light structure. A very refined Sauvignon! SUPERIORE.DE

The fruit for the Collio Chardonnay comes from vineyards on the Vallade hill. A slender Chardonnay expression, light in terms of texture, but also very fresh. Minerality takes centre stage here, with salty notes of sandstone, marble and flint emerging in layers. The long finish is slender and racy. SUPERIORE.DE

The Collio Friulano is edgy and bright with a linear flavour interplay of minty apple, quince and crushed oyster shell. Compared to some other Friulano wines on the market, this pretty wine is exceptionally lively, electric and fresh. The pure mineral notes are what make the difference. On the palate, the wine is silky, lean and fresh. The production is just 5,000 bottles. SUPERIORE.DE

The Collio Rosso is beautiful and seductive with an abundance of raspberry jam and plums, complemented by wild herbal notes and peppery flowers. Its textures are like pure silk, introducing a polished and cool blend of red and black berries with hints of citrus and tangerine. The palate remains concentrated and fresh, only slightly structured and with lingering violet and lavender tones. SUPERIORE.DE

The Collio Chardonnay Selezione with a grey label in a small edition of just 2,000 bottles is another special wine from Borgo del Tiglio, characterised by extreme varietal purity and a light, lively and airy bouquet. The wine's aromas are characterised on the one hand by fresh apricots and nectarines and on the other by creamy almond paste, preserved lemon and poached pear. The warmth of the 2023 vintage has contributed to an added textural richness that makes it a perfect match for an appetiser of escargots. SUPERIORE.DE

Reserve your best fish recipe for the Borgo del Tiglio Collio Sauvignon Selezione. It is a textbook rendition of the fragrant grape, dressed in a manner typical of Friuli. In fact, compared to Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, this region tends to produce softer wines that do not have pungent green notes. The bouquet is floral and delicate, with notes of white rose, fruit, quince and delicate lemon. There is also a very pronounced mineral note, reminiscent of crushed shells, in this edition of 1,200 bottles, which immediately transports you to the north-east of Italy. Hats off! SUPERIORE.DE

Borgo del Tiglio's Collio Rosso Riserva is a northern Italian Merlot (with the addition of 5% Cabernet Franc) and is only vinified in the best vintages. A beautiful red with a delicate personality and a resting intensity that emphasises a kind of elegance that is particularly rare for this grape variety. On the nose, redcurrant, sour cherry, blue flowers and hints of caraway and crushed linseed. A great, exceptional red wine, of which only 1,200 bottles were produced. SUPERIORE.DE

Borgo del Tiglio's Malvasia Italo & Bruno (of which only 1,200 bottles were produced) is a delicate wine with pretty scents reminiscent of white flowers, gardenias and honeydew melon. There is also a distinct mineral note, but here it is more dusty or ashy than salty. This is an exceptional expression of Malvasia, a versatile grape with particularly floral flavours when in the right hands. SUPERIORE.DE

Ronco della Chiesa is another inspiring expression from one of Italy's most exciting white wine artists: the wine is made from 100% Friulano and is aged for 10 months in barriques. Its complexity is extraordinary. The wine grows in intensity with every passing minute, with notes of white peach, nectarine, poached pear and crushed limestone. As it progresses, there are hints of baked sweet bread or buttery croissant. On the palate, a very pleasing, medium fruit weight with beautiful, balanced acidity. Its quality clearly comes more from the fruit than from the winemaking. Only 2,600 bottles of this great Friulano were produced. SUPERIORE.DE

The winery's flagship white wine is called Studio di Bianco and is a blend of 40% Friulano, 35% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Riesling, aged for 10 months in large barrels. It is an exceptional white wine, certainly one of the best in Italy, with a unique energy and tension reflected in a complex bouquet. A cornucopia of floral aromas, stone fruit, peach cake, honey and vanilla cream explode in the glass. The medium-bodied texture of the wine finishes smooth and very defined, revealing a unique complexity and elegance. The total production per vintage is just 1,900 bottles and anyone who has had this wine in their glass at least once in their life should consider themselves lucky. SUPERIORE.DE

The Rosso della Centa is a 100% Merlot that comes from a small vineyard on the south-western slopes of the hills of San Giorgio in Brazzano. Red grapes are grown on this one-hectare plot of land, most of them Merlot. The soil of this marvellous field is typical of the Collio, as it was formed by the fragmentation of the alternating layers of marl and sandstone that form the foundation of the hills. The slopes are very steep, which is why the field was terraced and stabilised with dry stone walls.

The wine captivates from the very first swirl of the glass with its distinctly floral bouquet, in which violets and roses combine with menthol and wild blueberries. On the palate, it impresses with its cool personality and a pure blend of mineral blackberries, accompanied by sage and exotic spices. Nuances of dark chocolate, cloves and black liquorice linger on the long and lightly structured final, which is framed by sweet tannins and cedar wood. Rosso della Centa is breathtaking, but it still needs a few years to show its very best side. SUPERIORE.DE