Specogna, `Identità` Friulano/Malvasia/Ribolla Gialla
Vintage: 2020
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | SP509B20 | 6 x 75 | Natural Cork | Available |
Producer
The Specogna family owns 25 hectares of vineyard on the hill of Rocca Bernarda in the heart of the Colli Orientali DOC in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Their vineyards are planted in a spectacular amphitheatre and tended organically by Michele and Cristian Specogna, so the quality of the fruit they bring to the winery is impeccable. As a result, they are keen to get as much flavour as possible from their grapes.
Due to this quality of fruit, Michele and Cristian can macerate wines on their skins for 18 - 24 hours before fermentation. This results in a Pinot Grigio, which is ‘ramato’ (coppery) in colour, displaying a remarkable flavour intensity. While this style is fashionable today, the wine has always been made in this manner by the Specogna family and was first imported by Liberty Wines in 1997.
The Ribolla Gialla is spicy and refreshing, boasting youthful notes of peach and lively zesty citrus flavours, culminating in a remarkably fresh, elegant finish. Specogna’s Friulano is a powerful wine with aromas of exotic fruit and white pepper notes, while the Refosco shows similar intensity and personality. The ‘Pinot Grigio Riserva’ is an aged version of the Pinot Grigio ‘ramato’ sourced from over 50-year-old vines on the classic ‘ponca’ soils of Rocca Bernarda. Fermentation on its skins in oak is followed by ageing for 24 months in barrel before further ageing in bottle. The result is a rounded, generous wine with a textured finish.
The ‘Identità’ blends Friulano, Malvasia and Ribolla Gialla from 76-year-old vines. The grapes are picked and vinified simultaneously before ageing for 12 months on their lees, in 500-litre demi-muids and bottling without filtration. Matured for a further 12 months in bottle before release, the resulting wine is structured on the palate with lively acidity and delicious notes of fruit and spice. The finish is smooth and nutty, with an impressive mineral length.
Vineyards
The family has 16 hectares of vineyard on the hill of Rocca Bernarda in the heart of the Colli Orientali DOC zone. Vineyards are situated at an altitude of 120 metres above sea level, with south-east exposure. The soil is marl, sandstone and clay and planting density is 4,000 vines per hectare. The vines are trained to the Guyot system.
Vintage
The 2020 vintage was a very wet year. The winter was drawn out and saw very heavy rainfall and some snowfall. The cold temperatures continued throughout April and as a result, budburst was delayed. Significant rainfall was recorded during the spring months and in early summer. At the end of July, temperatures rose and the increased sun exposure allowed the grapes to ripen fully to optimum maturity. Despite the disease pressure created by the heavy rain, the vineyards didn’t suffer any hail and the dry ripening period meant the grapes were able to ripen at a lengthy pace, gaining complex characteristics, and producing perfectly balanced wines.
Vinification
The grapes were harvested by hand in 10-Kilo boxes to preserve the berries. Once arrived at the winery, grapes were whole-bunch pressed. The juice was racked and then fermented using indigenous yeasts. Afterwards, the wine was aged for 12 months and was then aged in bottle for several months prior to release.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
This wine is intense yellow in colour with green hues. On the nose are aromas of citrus fruit, papaya with hints of white peach, almonds, sage and white pepper. It is well structured on the palate, with a strong undercurrent of acidity and a harmonious fruit and spice element. The finish is smooth and nutty with notes of tropical fruit lingering in the aftertaste.
Alcohol (ABV)
13%
Acidity
4.64 g/l
Residual Sugar
1.5 g/l
pH
3.4
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specogna | Friulano | SP501 | W | ||
| Pinot Grigio Ramato | SP502 | W | |||
| Ribolla Gialla | SP504 | W | Factsheet | ||
| Refosco | SP507 | R | Factsheet | ||
| Pinot Grigio Riserva | SP508 | W | Factsheet |