Castello Di Spessa Friulano Collio DOC 2016 (750ml)

 

Rated 91 Points by Wine Enthusiast Magazine

 

Apple and hazelnut aromas lift out of the glass and carry over to the medium-bodied palate along with grapefruit and white-pepper notes.  It's elegant and balanced, with fresh acidity.  A tangy mineral note enlivens the finish.

 

Castello Di Spessa Friulano Collio DOC 2016

 

Color:  In the glass, the wine is pale straw yellow and glossy. 

 

Nose:  The nose is particularly complex compared to most of the Friulano wines, with fresh hints of bitter almonds and flowery notes of wisteria and rose with a buttery background. 

 

Flavor:  Full, velvety, soft and complex on the palate with great depth and balance.

 

Alcohol:  13.5%

 

Pairings

 

It pairs magnificently with hand-sliced Prosciutto Crudo di San Daniele.  Excellent with hard boiled eggs and asparagus or with spring herb frittatas, bean and pearl barley soup or risotto with asparagus tips, artichokes and radicchio di Treviso.

 

The Vineyards

 

The history of Collio’s vineyards dates back to pre-Roman times and crosses the Middle Ages, a period when the wines from Collio were valued throughout Europe.  The Consorzio Tutela Vini del Collio was created in 1964, one of the first wine associations in Italy, and in 1968 it received the recognition of the Denomination of Origin (Collio DOC).  The most beloved wine from the Friulan people, Friulano has been part of the winemaking tradition of this region from a very long time, better known as Tocai friulano, or the nickname “Tajut” (small glass of wine in Friulian language).  Evidence of the presence of this indigenous grape in Friuli dates back to the XI century.

 

Friuli Venezia Giulia

 

In Friuli Venezia Giulia most of the vineyards are located in the southern half of the region facing slopes of the Alps foothills where they can benefit from the most direct sunlight to go along with the night-time cool breezes from the Adriatic.

 

Vineyard & Production Information

 

Vineyard Location:  Capriva del Friuli

 

Vineyard Size:  2,5 Ha

 

Soil Composition:  Flysch (locally called “Ponca”) consisting of marl and sandstone

 

Training Method:  Guyot

 

Elevation:  50 m a.s.l.

 

Vines / Acre:  6,000 Ha

 

Yield / Acre:  60 q/Ha

 

Exposure:  South East

 

Age:  25 Years

 

Harvest Time:  Hand Picking / End of August

 

First Vintage:  2004

 

Production:  8,600 Bottles

 

Winemaking & Aging

 

Varietal Composition:  100% Friulano

 

Fermentation Container:  Stainless Steel Tanks / 21 Days at 16° C

 

Type of Aging Container:  Stainless Steel Tanks (50 Hl)

 

Length of Aging:  6 Months

 

Length of Bottle Aging:  2 Months

 

 

Castello Di Spessa

 

Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy

 

Estate Owned by:  Loretto Pali

Winemaker:  Enrico Paternoster

Total Acreage of Vine:  205 (83 Ha)

Winery Production:  500,000 bottles

Region:  Friuli Venezia Giulia

 

The origins of the Castle of Spessa date back to the 13th century but many records show an earlier date going back to the 3rd century A.D. of a primitive Roman defensive settlement.  For centuries the manor was the residence of some Friulian noble families, such as the Durnberg, Rassauer and Della Torre Valsassina families, claiming to be descendants of Charlemagne and who remained the owners for over 300 years.  In 1773 it was count Luigi Torriani who welcomed Giacomo Casanova to Spessa.  Many other illustrious people and artists have been guests of the manor, among which include Lorenzo Da Ponte, Mozart’s famous librettist, Emanuele Filiberto d’Aosta and Mussolini.  Since 1987, the Pali family, owners to this day, have been maintaining the site’s traditional hospitality by giving new life to the manor house and turning it into the heart of the Castle of Spessa Resort hotel complex, including an 18-hole golf course, a winery, a hotel and two gourmet restaurants.

The Castle of Spessa Winery is located in Capriva del Friuli (province of Gorizia), in one of the finest Italian wine areas: the Collio hills that slope towards the fertile plane furrowed by the Isonzo river.  The vineyards cover 28 hectares in the DOC Collio appelation and 55 hectares in the DOC Isonzo.  Due to the closeness of the Adriatic Sea, about 30 km away, and the protection of the mountains, the Pre Julian Alps, the climate here is ideal for grape growing.  With mild winters and delicate and mild summers, characterized by important temperature fluctuations between night and day, this area is excellent for maintaining the aromas and flavors of the grapes at their very best.

Since ancient times these environmental factors have enhanced viticulture in this small paradise of gentle slopes in Friuli Venezia Giulia.  Moreover, the soil of Collio is formed by layers of marl and sandstone that give the wines (above all the whites, for which the area is internationally renowned) a unique mineral character and an excellent balance between freshness, smoothness and structure, thus helping the wines to age well for a long time.  The spectacular ageing cellars of the Castle of Spessa have been hollowed out on two levels beneath the manor; the first and the most ancient cellar dates back to the Medieval period, and the second, on the second level at 18 meters deep, was obtained from a military bunker in 1939.

 

 

Rated 91 Points by Wine Enthusiast Magazine

 

Apple and hazelnut aromas lift out of the glass and carry over to the medium-bodied palate along with grapefruit and white-pepper notes.  It's elegant and balanced, with fresh acidity.  A tangy mineral note enlivens the finish.