About this wine

Vineyard and terroir

The 2021 wine comes from the 0.95 ha Fratta vineyard in Mariano del Friuli, within Friuli Isonzo Rive Alte. The vines have an average planting age of 12 years and stand at 31–32 m, with rows running east–west. Planting density is 7,800 vines/ha, the layout is 1.60 × 0.80 m, and the vines are trained to simple Guyot.

The deep soil consists of two distinct layers. The upper layer is slightly acidic, decalcified clay without gravel. Below it lies a calcareous mixture of silt and sand, rich in dolomite and other calcareous minerals. The producing area covers 0.95 ha. Yield in 2021 was 5,093 kg/ha, equivalent to 0.65 kg per vine.

Grapes

100% Merlot. The grapes were harvested on 1 October 2021.

Vinification

The fruit was destemmed and crushed and underwent pre-fermentation cold settling. Skin contact lasted 21 days, with punch-downs and délestage. Fermentation took place in stainless-steel vats for 14 days at 18–30°C, using selected yeast strains. Malolactic fermentation was completed.

Ageing

The wine matured for 18 months in barrels and then spent 8 months in steel tanks while natural clarification was completed. It was bottled on 10 January 2024 and aged in bottle for 20 months.