Pignolo Friulano Colli Orientali doc 2005 riserva

Who finds a Pignolo finds a treasure: Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC 2005 Riserva

L'Azienda Agricola Viarte (spring in Friulano) was founded in 1973 with 35 hectares in Prepotto (UD). In 2003 a further 6 hillside hectares were added and since 2013 it has been run by Alberto Piovan, who is increasingly committed to rediscovering the strength of Friulian viticulture and bringing it to the attention of the world.
Prepotto lies in a very narrow, mountainous valley, where fresh, dry winds help viticulture by keeping fungal agents at bay, and the vineyards sit at an altitude of under 200 metres above sea level, where the temperature range favours the health of the vines and the aromatic profile of the grapes.
Here, international varieties are cultivated in part – such as Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Cabernet and Merlot – and in part native varieties, some of them very ancient, such as Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Picolit, Verduzzo Friulano, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Schioppettino, Tazzelenghe and Pignolo, from which the wine whose tasting notes we present here is made.

Pignolo is a native grape variety from the province of Udine, where records of it date back to the seventeenth century. In the early twentieth century it was almost completely abandoned due to its characteristically angular nature during the early stages of its potentially very long life. From the 1980s onwards it was replanted and is now found almost exclusively in the municipalities of Prepotto, Albana, Rosazzo and Premariaco.
The bunch is small and very compact, with medium-sized berries featuring a thick, leathery skin of an intense blue-black colour.
Today we will discuss the Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC 2005 Riserva Pignolo.
On the eye it presents an intense violet colour, absolutely surprising for a 10-year-old wine – oily, very dense and captivating.
On the nose it is struck by green vegetal notes and strong toasted hints of leather and coffee, which become even more pronounced once swirled in the glass.
On the palate it is surprisingly acidic, tannic, still very rough, with pronounced vegetal and sooty notes.
Despite its age, the structure and the aromas described are those of a young wine, still unfinished but of tremendous quality – one that, with careful bottle ageing over the next 5–10 years, could transform this Pignolo into a true treasure of winemaking.