Livio Felluga Friulano Colli Orientali del Friuli 2021
(Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy) - [JS 93] [WE 91] [VM 90] [WS 90]

About the Winery:
The winery was founded in 1956, after Livio Felluga relocated from his native Istria, but the family's winemaking traditions date back to the mid-19th century. Founder and patriarch Livio Felluga is accredited with innovating and mastering modern wine making in Italy. While Felluga passed away in 2016 at the age of 102, his reputation for creating exceptionally lush, crisp and well-balanced wines extends well beyond the region of Friuli. His wines are recognized the world over as the finest in their categories. Today, the family-owned winery is led by Livio's son, Andrea Felluga.

The 500-acre Livio Felluga Estate includes 370 acres of rolling hillside vineyards in the Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli. Friuli's temperate climate, protected by the Alps to the north and moderated by the Adriatic Sea to the south is a winemaker's dream. The sparse soil of marl and calcareous deposits is ideal for the white varieties, and also for their complex red wines.

About this Wine:
The traditional Friulian wine par excellence, with a strong personality and typicality. Well-structured, with harmonious fruity and mineral complexity, and a characteristic bitter almond aftertaste. Our Friulano vines are mainly Guyot-trained and have their roots in the Ponca soil (Cormòns flysch in technical terms), which is composed of marl and sandstone of Eocene origin, stratified under the sea over the millennia, lending our wines a unique tanginess and minerality. The harvest took place during the month of September. The healthy and perfectly ripe grapes were hand-picked in small crates, to preserve the integrity of the fruit. After gentle destemming the fruit was left to macerate for a short period, then softly crushed, and the must obtained was clarified by decantation. Temperature- controlled fermentation followed in stainless steel vats. At the end of fermentation, the wine was kept on the lees for a few months to increase its complexity, creamy texture and suitability for ageing. Once bottled, it matured in temperature-controlled rooms.

Color: Bright and brilliant straw yellow with slight coppery reflections.

Nose: Complex, fine and enveloping. Rich and floral, with notes of acacia flowers, jasmine, hawthorn, broom and elderberry. Followed by hints of white and yellow fruit such as pear, peach, golden apple and apricot, blended in a fresh minerality and a pleasant citrus note.

Palate: Voluminous & full-bodied with crunchy, mineral-laden acidity. Fresh, balanced and savory. Complex array of flavours with rich notes of white peach, litchi, apple and winter melon, integrated with sweet hints of fresh baked pastries. The very long and persistent finish gives a fruity and salty aftertaste.

Pairings: Particularly suitable for fish dishes, shellfish appetizers, risottos and vegetable flans.

Ratings & Reviews:

93 Points - James Suckling:
"There is pretty depth and intensity to the friulano with sliced peaches, apricots and subtle pie crust. Sea salt as well. Medium body. Gun metal, flint and matchstick. Reductive in a very positive way. Drink or hold. Screw cap." (Aug 2023)

91 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"This is a classic example of this amazing grape. Once poured, this wine is in your face with beautiful aromas of yellow peach, tropical fruit and a huge bouquet of flowers. The palate is lush and ripe with apricot flavors that partner with crushed stone and almond. On the finish, the palate is wiped clean by a rush of acidity that keeps the wine fresh." - Jeff Porter (July 2023)

90 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2021 Friulano is wildly fresh, with cucumber and chlorophyll notes offset by a spritz of lime. This soothes with its soft textures as citrus-tinged orchard fruits and zesty spices cascade across a core of brisk acidity. The 2021 finishes perfumed and dramatically long, with tangerine and ginger that linger on and on. There is so much character packed into this entry-level Friulano from Livio Felluga. (Drink between 2023-2025)" - Eric Guido (Apr 2023)

90 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A sleek white, with ripe nectarine and strawberry flavors enriched by hints of vanilla-infused pastry cream and delicate herbs, while orange peel acidity creates a lightly mouthwatering frame. Stony finish. Drink now through 2025. 5,000 cases made, 800 cases imported." - Alison Napjus (Aug 2023)