Blazic Friulano Zegla 2019, 0,75 l

There are wines where you realise straight away: someone has really taken their time with this. The Friulano Zegla is exactly that sort of wine. It comes from a small collaborative project launched in 2012 by three young winemaking families from the Collio region – with the clear aim of bottling what is perhaps the most authentic expression of their homeland.

The grapes – exclusively Friulano – are grown solely on the Zegla hilltop near Cormons, cultivated organically and harvested by hand. Following a three-day maceration period and spontaneous fermentation, the wine matures for two years in large wooden casks, then for a further year in concrete tanks, before being left to rest in the bottle for another two years. Only then is it released for sale.

The result is golden-yellow in the glass and displays ripe fruit, yellow fruit and Mediterranean herbs on the nose. On the palate, it is powerful and mineral, with wonderful freshness and a finish that simply won’t end.

There are only 800 bottles and 20 magnums of this vintage worldwide – a real treasure for anyone who wants to treat themselves to good fish, grilled eel, risotto or even a strong cheese.