La Roncaia Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
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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.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
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.