{"product_id":"borgo-del-tiglio-sauvignon-select-2018","title":"Borgo del Tiglio Sauvignon Select 2018","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(190, 4, 4);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e90 pts Vinous\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eDrinking Window 2022 - 2026\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 2018 Sauvignon (Dark Label) is savory and peppery with crushed granny smith apples and hints of smoke. It’s round and pliant in style with ripe orchard fruits, yet I find myself craving more thrust. This finishes long and lightly structured, lingering on green apple and hints of spice. The 2018 shows the warmth of the vintage, yet it remains nicely balanced. - By Eric Guido on April 2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMade only in the better vintages, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSauvignon Selezione is a cellar selection of the best individual barrels from Borgo del Tiglio's finest Sauvignon vineyards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Nicola Manferrari works with an old local Friulian selection of Sauvignon that is quite different from modern French clonal material, producing small, loose bunches and naturally high acidity even when harvested at considerable ripeness. The best sites are cool, predominantly \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eeast-facing hillsides on Collio's marl-rich soils\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, where morning sun and cooler exposures help preserve the grape's aromatics and acidity. After a brief cold maceration and very gentle pressing, the wine is fermented and aged for approximately 9–10 months in mostly used small oak barrels, with only the finest barrels selected for the Selezione.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur Take:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e This is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eserious Sauvignon Blanc\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, but don't expect anything resembling a simple grassy New Zealand Sauvignon or even classic Sancerre. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePale straw-yellow in color with green highlights\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the nose is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003epronounced and complex\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewhite peach, green apple and ripe orchard fruit\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e layered with fresh herbs, white pepper, smoke and a distinctly flinty\/mineral quality. The palate is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003emedium-full to full-bodied\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, round and textural from the ripe fruit and barrel fermentation, but balanced by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehigh natural acidity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e that gives the wine freshness and energy. The flavors are \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eintense and savory\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with ripe peach and apple moving into herbs, spice, smoke and salty minerals. The finish is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003every long, dry and distinctly saline\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with lingering green apple, spice and flinty minerality. The warm 2018 vintage gives this more generosity and breadth than some vintages, but it remains beautifully balanced. This is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSauvignon Blanc built more like a great white Burgundy than a conventional Sauvignon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with the texture, acidity and structure to develop for years in the bottle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVariety:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e100% Sauvignon Blanc\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAppellation:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollio DOC\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWine:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSelezione is only made in the best vintages\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, selected from the finest Sauvignon vineyards and individual barrels in the cellar\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVineyards:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Fruit comes from several hillside vineyards, with the estate favoring its \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecooler, predominantly east-facing sites\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eImportant Site:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Borgo del Tiglio particularly identifies its \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eeast-facing Ruttars vineyard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e as an ideal Sauvignon site because of its exposure and limestone-rich soils\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlant Material:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e An old local \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFriulian Sauvignon selection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, characterized by small, loose bunches and elongated berries; Nicola considers it meaningfully different from modern French clonal Sauvignon\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoils:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Classic Collio soils derived primarily from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003egray and brown marl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with the Ruttars site particularly rich in limestone\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExposure:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Predominantly \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eeast-facing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, giving the vines cooler morning light rather than the hotter afternoon sun\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eViticulture:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Low-yielding by nature, with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGuyot and double-Guyot training\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e; Borgo del Tiglio deliberately keeps Sauvignon yields particularly low\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHarvest:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The local Sauvignon selection retains excellent acidity and is resistant to rot, allowing Nicola to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eharvest relatively late and achieve greater physiological ripeness\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWinemaking:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e A \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebrief cold skin maceration\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is possible because of the grape's naturally high acidity, followed by extremely gentle pressing\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOxidative Handling:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The must is deliberately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003enot protected from oxygen before fermentation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a choice Nicola believes improves aromatic refinement and the wine's ability to evolve in bottle\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFermentation:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Fermented in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003esmall oak barrels, primarily previously used\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eÉlevage:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e9–10 months in small French oak barrels\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, after which only the best individual barrels are selected for the Selezione\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAging Potential:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExceptional.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Nicola describes Sauvignon as perhaps \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe longest-lived wine Borgo del Tiglio produces\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with the youthful white-fruit aromas gradually developing toward more mineral and flinty notes with bottle age\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFood Pairing:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Particularly good with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003elobster, crab and other seafood\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, but the estate also recommends tomato-based dishes with fresh herbs and aged \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePecorino\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Vineyards \u0026amp; Friulian Sauvignon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne of the most interesting things about this wine is that Nicola doesn't view his Sauvignon as simply the Friulian version of French Sauvignon Blanc. The local plant material has evolved through generations of selection in Friuli and is visibly different in the vineyard, with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003esmall, loose bunches and elongated berries\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. More importantly for the wine, it combines naturally \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehigh acidity with the ability to reach considerable ripeness\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, allowing Nicola to harvest later without losing freshness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSite is equally important. Sauvignon is an aromatic grape, and Nicola believes it performs best on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecooler slopes exposed to the clean morning light\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which is why Borgo del Tiglio favors east-facing vineyards and has actually removed Sauvignon from warmer southwest-facing sites. The estate considers its \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eeast-facing Ruttars parcel particularly well suited to the grape\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with limestone-rich soils contributing to the wine's refinement and mineral character.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Selezione\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLike the Chardonnay Selezione, this isn't simply a different label put on the same wine. The individual Sauvignon vineyards and lots are kept separate, fermented and aged in small barrels, and after approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e9–10 months Nicola tastes through the cellar and selects the most promising barrels from the best vineyards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Only in good vintages is there enough exceptional wine to justify bottling a separate \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSauvignon Selezione\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat makes the wine especially compelling is how it changes with age. When young, Nicola describes the Sauvignon as dominated by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003esoft white-fleshed fruit, particularly white peach\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. As it matures, those primary aromatics gradually give way to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eflint and mineral notes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, while the wine retains its high acidity, salinity and deep finish. Nicola actually considers Sauvignon potentially \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe most durable white wine he makes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which tells you quite a bit considering the extraordinary longevity of Borgo del Tiglio's other whites.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Friuli","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44377215336582,"sku":"KS8770","price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0075\/0338\/0543\/files\/BorgodelTiglioSauvignonSelezione.png?v=1789327419","url":"https:\/\/www.winesolutions.com\/products\/borgo-del-tiglio-sauvignon-select-2018","provider":"Wine Solutions","version":"1.0","type":"link"}