PINOT GRIGIO

2020 | Collio DOC

Category: white, dry
Grapes:  Pinot Grigio
Location: San Floriano del Collio
Viticultural area: Collio Goriziano

VINEYARD
Soil profile: stratified Eocene marl and sandstone
Training method:  double-arched cane and guyot
Average vine density: 3.000/6.000 vines /ha
Average planting age:  21 years
Harvest period: first half of September

VINIFICATION
De-stemming-crushing

Pre-fermentation cold maceration:
8°-10° C 
Pre-fermentation cold settling

Fermentation: 16°-20° C
Yeast:
selected
Malolactic fermentation:
  not made
Maturation:
9 months on the lees
Clarification:
gravity settling
Bottling:
28th June 2022
Bottle-agening:
7 month

TECHNICAL DATA
Alcohol: 13,04 %
Total acidity: 5,87 g/l
pH: 3,34
Estimated peak of maturation: 4 years
Estimated cellar life: 10 years

The first months of 2020 brought above-average temperatures and minimal rainfall, with the brief exception of a wet period in March. Lymph rise began irregularly, due to the drought of the winter months, towards the middle of the month.  The early hours of 1st  and 2nd April saw temperatures dip below 0°C across much of the valley areas, but fortunately, as many varieties had yet to sprout, no notable damage was observed and budding began with the subsequent rise in temperatures. Well-distributed rain in the months of May and June did not disturb flowering, which occurred around May 18th and lasted to the end of the month. Temperatures went up in June and veraison took place in July, earlier than the previous year. August presented average temperatures and rainfall. Our 2020 harvest started with pinot grigio on 2nd September and wrapped up on the 30th with Merlot.

The last months of the year witnessed heavy rainfall and a substantial accumulation of water resources. This vintage is remembered for the superior quality of the grapes, which had excellent sugar-acid balance and captivating aromatic expression. The wines exhibit freshness and elegance in their initial stages, and promise exceptional ageing potential.

Vintages

2018

The 2018 vintage had a promising start, with temperatures above average during bud break. Rising  temperatures from mid-April onwards led to rapid vegetative growth and brief and early flowering, approximately 15 days ahead of the historical norm. Positive weather conditions from May to July were marked by evenly distributed rainfall particularly high temperatures in the month of June, critical for the growth of the berries. The first signs of veraison were observed at the beginning of  July in the early zones, two weeks ahead of the historical average for the area. Record-breaking heat at the end of July and the first decade of August created ideal conditions for ripe, healthy fruit, while significant temperature excursions promoted the synthesis of essential aromatic compounds.

The 2018 vintage is also remembered for the perfect September weather, which created perfect conditions for the ripening of red grapes. From a qualitative standpoint, the 2018 vintage maintained the level of the previous one. The white wines, in particular Friulano and Sauvignon, stood out for their moderate alcohol content, balanced acidity and great aromatic expressiveness.

2017

The year 2017 unfolded with a sequence of extreme weather phenomena. From the end of winter, and notably in February and March, above average temperatures were recorded, leading to bud break approximately ten days earlier than usual. These higher temperatures persisted into early April and coincided with an absence of rain which ensured excellent bud burst and uniformity in bud development.

Later in the month, during the night between the 20th and 21st, temperatures dropped abruptly, prompting a late frost that caused considerable damage to the already advanced buds. As a result, some vineyards in the valley and in the Isonzo DOC experienced significant losses, and an imbalance emerged between the hillsides and the vines on the plain. While the higher vineyards maintained a slight lead into the harvest, those affected by the frost had delay ripening, aligning the harvest date with the seasonal average. The summer was marked by warm daytime temperatures and temperate nights, which created almost ideal conditions for optimal grape ripening and healthy fruit. Varieties such as pinot grigio and chardonnay displayed excellent ripeness, while others, particularly sauvignon and friulano, stood out for above average aromatic intensity. The wines have higher than usual pH, moderate sugar content, well-balanced acid structure and a composition rich in aromatic compounds.

2016

Despite a winter that can be considered out of the ordinary, given the deficit in rainfall and the many days of the bora wind, the vegetative awakening of the vine, the weeping, and subsequent budding occurred during periods that almost fall within the norm for the Collio area. A sudden change was triggered by the particular climatic conditions of April and May, where a rainfall restored the water deficit situation in the vineyards, without causing particular problems with downy mildew infections. However, the alternation of low and high temperatures created irregular growth of the shoots and interfered with the regular progress of the flowering phase, resulting in a delay compared to the average. This delay was eliminated with the sudden rise in temperatures from mid-June onwards; the succession of several North African anticyclones generated a hot and dry period, especially during the veraison period and almost until harvest.

The high temperatures that characterized almost the entire month of August caused excessive evapotranspiration and, in some cases, water stress in the hilltops exposed to the south. Harvest began in the first week of September with grapes that were decidedly healthy and extended over a long period.

The rains at the end of August and the sudden nighttime temperature drop have certainly improved the aromatic profile of the grapes.

2015

Winter 2015 was characterized by above-average temperatures. After two dry months, normal rainfall was recorded in March. The season began with budding in line with historical averages, although April, which was quite dry with temperatures lower than normal, led to a regular flowering at the end of May with a high fruit set. During the months of June and July, the continuation of good weather interspersed with brief precipitation greatly benefited the phenological development of the plant. Veraison began from July 18th for early varieties (Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon) and concluded with late varieties on August 8th. A strong and pronounced temperature fluctuation in August allowed for an ideal ripening of the grapes, which appeared ready for harvest from the early days of September. The 2015 vintage will be remembered as a good, consistent year, with healthy and aromatically ripe grapes. The wines exhibit good balance and strong varietal recognition with a propensity for longevity.

2014

The 2014 vintage was one of the most challenging to manage in the last quarter-century in Friuli. After a first part of the summer as hot as it was humid and rainy, copious precipitation accompanied by below-average seasonal temperatures in August and September created significant problems both from a health perspective and in achieving perfect grape ripeness. However, in our area, much more than in other wine-growing areas in Friuli Venezia Giulia, the number of wines worthy of the highest consideration is not few (particularly Friulano, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon and white blends). The constant ventilation enjoyed by the hills and a good part of the plain, the steep slope of some vineyards, the increase in manpower, and the determination to produce quality wines may have played a decisive role in the final results. The wines present themselves as fresh, elegant, and with the passing of years, they may even surprise us.