La Roncaia Eclisse 1999
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The 1999 Eclisse has a fruit-rich, intense and aristocratic nose with good acidity tempered by well-rounded flavors and excellent length on the palate.
Other Vintages
2021-
James
Suckling - Decanter
La Roncaia was founded in 1998 when the Fantinel family acquired the winery, located in Friuli Colli Orientali, to create a boutique winery able to produce top-quality wines. The philosophy of La Roncaia is to express the uniqueness of Colli Orientali del Friuli terroir, always aiming for the best. The passionate team is guided by the young and talented winemaker, Gabriele Tami, who has received numerous awards and acknowledgements, including the title “Wine Master.” This title was given when La Roncaia was named as one of the top 100 wineries in the world by The Drinks Business in 2020.
Located in the northern part of the DOC area, the winery is located in the hills of Ramandolo, Nimis, Attimis, and Tarcento. The ideal position for vines, the winery is protected by the Julian Alps from the cold north wind and gently caressed by a sweet breeze brought from the Adriatic Sea. The marl and sandstone soil of the gently rolling hills are terraced to provide an ideal habitat for viticulture.
La Roncaia vineyards are highly selected hectares nurtured by a passionate and loving team who cherish this “crown jewel” of the Fantinel family.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
The source of some of Italy’s best and most distinctive white wines, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is where Italian, Germanic and Slavic cultures converge. The styles of wines produced in this region of Italy's far north-east reflect this merging of cultures. Often shortened to just “Friuli,” the area is divided into many distinct subzones, including Friuli Grave, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Collio Goriziano and Carso. The flat valley of Friuli Grave is responsible for a large proportion of the region’s wine production, particularly the approachable Pinot grigio and the popular Prosecco. The best vineyard locations are often on hillsides, as in Colli Orientali del Friuli or Collio. In general, Friuli boasts an ideal climate for viticulture, with warm sunny days and chilly nights, which allow grapes to ripen slowly and evenly.
In Colli Orientali, the specialty is crisp, flavorful white wine made from indigenous varieities like Friulano (formerly known as Tocai Friulano), Ribolla gialla and Malvasia Istriana.
Red wines, though far less common here, can be quite good, especially when made from the deeply colored, rustic Refosco variety. In Collio Goriziano, which abutts Slovenia, many of the same varieties are planted. International varieties like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc are also common, but they tend to be Loire-like in style with herbaceous character and mellow tannins. Carso’s star grape is the red Teranno, notable for being rich in iron content and historically consumed for health purposes. It has an earthy, meaty profile and is often confused with the distinct variety Refosco.