2018 Ronchi di Cialla Schioppettino

Collio Orientali del Friuli-Cialla, Friuli, Italy 100% Schioppettino Age of Vines: 50 Years oldSkin maceration: 4-5 weeks with pumpovers twice dailyMalolactic fermentationStainless steelAging in French oak barriques for 14-18 months and bottle for 30-36 months The 2018 Schioppettino di Cialla is impossible to ignore. It's profoundly floral and herbal with rose petals, wilted violets, wet stone and ginger-tinged blackberry aromas. It opens with a pleasant inner sweetness and richer than expected, yet perfectly balanced, with depths of ripe wild berry fruits contrasted by spiced blood orange. For all of its depth and concentration, fresh acidity lifts the experience through the finish, leaving a candied citrus and white pepper tinge while tapering off classically dry. What a beauty. The 2018 is the child of a cool vintage, yet there's so much power and density here. Bury your bottles deep.