Our Take: This is serious, old-vine Friulano from 70+ year-old vines planted in the classic Ponca soils of the Colli Orientali. Aromatically it leans toward wildflowers, fresh herbs, citrus and crushed stone, with Friulano's classic almond character emerging on the finish. The palate has wonderful texture but remains bright and energetic, with excellent acidity and a pronounced mineral and saline quality that carries through the long, dry finish. This is less about obvious fruit and more about texture, minerality and terroir—exactly what I want from great Friulano. A few weeks ago I had a bottle of the 2020 San Pietro and it was outstanding, one of the best Friulano I have had in some time. The wine ages beautifully for up to 10-12 years, with me catching it about half way on that arc.  A ton of attractive aromas and flavors of peach, pear, apple, with almond and garden herbs, but elegant and light on its feet. The finish on this sailed on for well over a minute!

• Variety: 100% Friulano
• Appellation: Friuli Colli Orientali DOC
• Vineyard: Single vineyard San Pietro, in the Gramogliano Hills of Corno di Rosazzo close to the Slovenian border.
• Exposure: Southeast-facing at approximately 150 meters / 490 feet ASL
• Vine Age: 70-90 years-old, plantings from the 1930s through the 1950s
• Soils: Ponca—Eocene-era marl and sandstone flysch, the classic soil of Friuli's great hillside vineyards
• Viticulture: Certified organic farming. Naturally very low yeilds that seldom exceed 20 hl/ha
• Winemaking: Hand harvested, typically around mid-September. Whole clusters are very gently pressed, with a maximum pressure of approximately 1.2 bar, to obtain primarily the cleanest free-run juice. Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts.
• Élevage: Approximately 6 months on the fine lees in stainless steel.
• Residual Sugar: Less than 2 g/L
• Alcohol: 13%
• Tiny Production: Approximately 15,000 bottles annually
• Food Pairings: Seafood, light appetizers, regional soups, fresh cheeses and, classically, Prosciutto di San Daniele

The vineyard is really the story here. San Pietro sits on the hills of Gramogliano in Corno di Rosazzo, with very old Friulano vines rooted in Ponca, the compressed layers of Eocene marl and sandstone that define many of Friuli's best hillside sites. The southeast exposure, old vines and extremely well-draining Ponca give the wine concentration without heaviness and help explain its combination of texture, acidity, minerality and salinity.