This Wine

Tasting Notes: 100% Friulano: native grape that used to be called Tocai Friulano. Friulano 
usually has some weight to the body with a quince / apricot and almond nose. Creamy but 
agile texture. For a local match in heaven, try with slices of Prosciutto of nearby San Danielle.

This wine works really well with local Polenta too; it accents and echoes the polenta's 
creamy-sweetness. Polenta and mushrooms with a glass of Tocai is enough to make any 
curmudgeon happy on a cold night

Vineyard: Colli Orientali DOC; land of world classs whites, reknown for their richenes and 
complexity.

Vini?cation: Vini?ed in steel; 4-5 months of battonage.

Awards: 2/3 Bicchieri Gambero Rosso 2008.

The Vineyard

Just back from delivering his wine to Milan, Adriano Gigante jumped out of a van in his overalls. 
He said his name, opened some wines at the bar, and off we went to taste through one 
excellent wine after another with Adriano weaving in the history and current enological 
happenings of his regions, famous for 
great white wines. His years as president of the Colli Orientali wine growers, and his down to earth sincerity, translateinto a producer who is knowledgeable and passionate about the region and its grape varieties.

Gigante’s whites have pure, precise and clean fruit ?avors. The Tocai Friulano 
from the vineyard ‘Vigneto Storico’ is produced from vines over 70 years old; 
the nose is incredibly complex for a young wine, with sapid and persistent 
fruit.

Everyone knows Pinot Grigio and here in Friuli they make some great ones. 
But, when you are ready to branch out, try Tocai Friulano. It is the favorite of 
Friulians, and most would argue a more interesting grape variety as well.
Many people don't distinguish the wines of the Collio DOC from Colli Orientali 
DOC, and it is true that both have excellent producers (especially in the southern hills). One signi?cant difference, however, is the rich heritage of indigenous red grapes found in Colli Orientali DOC, such as Refosco and Schioppettino.

These reds are unique without being “strange.” The Schioppetino could be compared to 
an elegant Pinot Nero with its spicy nose and slight but present fruit of cherry and fresh 
raspberries; it has a medium body with vibrant acidity. The Refosco is more immediate 
with warmer and rounder black fruit delicate tannins under the fruit. The Merlot and Merlot Riserva have black cherry and prune ?avors in nose and mouth with a good balance 
of round fruit and acidity; the former is lighter in body and more re