2021 I Clivi Venezia Giulia Ribolla Gialla «A Tessa»

Region: Italy, Friuli
Farming: Organic
Grape Variety: Ribolla Gialla

Light-bodied, dry white; lemon and kaolin | Green olives

Ribolla Gialla is a tricky variety - it never seems to ripen if you're working by the numbers (stubbornly acidic and low sugar), and even more so when tasting (green and crunchy even when it turns golden), so the temptation is to disguise its 'flaws' with long macerations and plenty of oxygen. Mario takes a different approach, opting to coax the delicate citrussy and floral flavours with gentle pressing and an understated cellar approach. The result? An undertow of clay minerality (like the best Rebula from across the border) that only accentuates the wedge of pure lemon flavour. Drink now, but we like it at 5-6 years of age.

Find out more here.