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| La Viarte Pignolo Riserva 2005. |
Wine review
5 of 5 stars
An outstanding wine
Dear vinous
friends, this wine is truly divine. La
Viarte Pignolo Riserva 2005 is a spectacular example of what can be achieved
when this Friulian grape is grown and vinified respecting its varietal potential. La
Viarte is an important premium wine producer in the village of Prepotto, in
Colli Orientali del Friuli. Their methods of vineyard care are ecologically
aware, aiming at respecting the vines and the delicate balance of the nature.
Although, at this point, I’m well acquainted with what can be accomplished with
Pignolo, tasting this wine makes me still go weak at the knees.
Intense and
deep in its ruby red colour, this wine boasts an elegant version of the
aromatics so typical of Pignolo. At first, the pronounced nose offers a soft,
floral perfume of powder immediately followed by cranberry-like red forest
fruit. Deepness of ripe cherries and plum aromas forms a background to the
freshness of the forest fruit. The more developed aromatic layers present
spiciness, coffee and leather. Further, the aromas of oak are very subtle and
well integrated considering this wine has been matured in barriques for 24
months. What I find so special about Pignolo is the alluring combination of the
very feminine nuance of floral perfume of powder and the wildness of the forest
fruit. This wine is a particularly fine example of this varietal aromatic
uniqueness.
When it
comes to acid structure, Pignolo possesses a huge aging potential as well as an
aging requirement due to its abundant tight tannin in youth. To become
agreeable and show the grape’s potential, it requires at least around ten years
to soften and integrate its tannins. La Viarte’s Pignolo, at the time point of
10 years from the vintage, has a surprisingly velvety yet firm, full-bodied mouth
feel, and is very well balanced, developed and complex. Still, it remains very
fresh fruit-wise. The plentiful fruit and structural components balance the
relatively high alcohol very well. Pignolo’s signature, the structural backbone
of tannin, creates paradoxical elegance in the mouth as it provides the
otherwise full-bodied wine with a good posture and narrows it on the tongue.
Aromatically, the forest fruit lead the way, as the black peppery spiciness and
coffee linger in the background. Finishing with a pleasantly fruitful and fresh
aftertaste that remains, this wine leaves a lasting impression.
Well
balanced, aromatically complex, a particularly fine example of Pignolo. Warmly
recommended.
Although I
tend to concentrate on wine bar recommendations, I can’t write about this wine
with good consciousness without giving you, dear readers, a vinous restaurant
tip. I ran into La Viarte Pignolo in Trattoria Al Giardinetto, in Cormons. Proving
to be a true wine lover’s paradise, Al Giardinetto presented us with an
impressive wine list and outstanding food as well as lovely and professional
service in all regards. You can find this restaurant in Michelin guide Italy,
and although it doesn’t have a star, its place in the guide is well justified.
Info in a nutshell
Price examples:
EUR 68 webshop friuliwineandfood.it (request shipment possibilities
via email)
GBP 49.20 webshop whisperwines.com (ships only to UK)
NZD 194.99 webshop villagewinery.co.nz
Country and region: Italy, Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Colli
Orientali, Prepotto
Grapes: 100% Pignolo
Alc vol: 14,5%
Producer: La Viarte
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