Refosco is renowned as the hallmark age-worthy red of Slovenia, Istria, agricultural areas surrounding Trieste, Carso and most famously, the Colli Orientali region of Friuli. Its quality has been praised throughout history, with Pliny the Elder first writing about it in the first century for its distinctive flavors and excellence. Aromas and flavors of plummy dark fruits and licorice are intertwined with earthy graphite notes, adding complexity. The wine is medium to full-bodied, with a finely grained structure. While immensely enjoyable now with a hearty braise or cheesy dish, it will improve over the next 10-12 years, developing additional aromas and complexity, rewarding your patience.
Hand-harvested, foot-tread, and fermented whole cluster. Fermentation occurs with wild yeast from the vineyard, and a full secondary fermentation is allowed to slowly complete with native bacteria throughout the winter and into spring. The wine undergoes 10 months of élevage in neutral puncheon, followed by 12 months in bottle.