Winemaker Notes
Through their conscientious and incredibly labor-intensive school of viticulture, Federica Magrini and Lorenzo Mocchiutti of Vignai da Duline are able to bring pristine, balanced fruit into their cellar, where they gently usher it to winehood via low-intervention practices. Purity, focus, and lively energy radiate through their wines, making each bottle a masterful interpretation of the native Friulan grape varieties they grow. Refosco in their hands reveals an explosion of red and black fruit, like wild mulberries, over a finely knit tannic structure and mouthwatering acidity.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This expression of Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso has a mid-weight appearance and a bit of the rough and rustic side that often comes with this grape. But the 2015 Friuli Colli Orientali Morus Nigra does show some interesting sour cherry and cola notes, making for a pretty interesting red. To me, this wine was meant for a lakeside picnic with grilled cheeseburgers.
After growing in the Friuli region of NE Italy for the last 2,000 years, Refosco has adapted to both the region’s hillside vineyards and flatter plains. Hardy enough to withstand any tumultuous fall weather, Refosco finishes ripening relatively late in the season; its intense fruit and aromatics require the time. Interestingly Refosco is related to the Teroldego grape of Trentino through their common parent grape, Marzemino. Somm Secret—It was documented in 1390 that Refosco was the favorite wine of Augustus Caesar’s second wife, Livia.
Viticulture has thrived in Colli Orientali del Friuli since the reign of ancient Rome and today its verdant, rolling hills support a long list of autochthonous varieties, each playing a unique and important role in the modern Colli Orientali wine scene.
The region is primarily recognized for its white wines. Its indigenous varieties of Ribolla Gialla, Verduzzo, Picolit and perhaps most importantly, Friulano are made into single varietal wines or blended, and often blended with the international varieties of Sauvignon blanc, Pinot grigio and Pinot bianco. The latter have been flourishing in the area since the 1800s. But it wasn’t until the 1970s when producers started using cold fermentation techniques to produce fresh, fruity, crisp and aromatic whites that this area began to attract international attention.
While reds only make up about a third of the area under vine, Colli Orientali is home to some of Italy’s most exciting and rare red wines. Refosco, Schioppettino, Tazzelenghe and Pignolo are among the autochthonous varieties while Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir also have a stronghold.
Colli Orientali holds much in common with its neighbor, Collio; the only thing dividing them is a political line. Both are influenced by the cooling effects of the Julian Alps and moderated by the Adriatic Sea. A unique soil of alternating marine layers called flysch also dominates Colli Orientali, providing a mineral-rich environment for vine roots and optimal water drainage.