Gradis’ciutta, Collio (Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy) 2015

 A Bordeaux blend with clear Italian fingerprints.  Gradis’ciutta harvests the Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon late in the harvest in order to concentrate sugars and flavors while the fruit is still on the vine.  The result is this rustic and complex vino rosso.  The wine is a deeply colored garnet and I found heavy fig and prune notes on the nose, likely from the late harvest of the fruit and a year in large neutral oak wooden casks.  I found the body to be equally complex with molasses chewing tobacco, pine needles, dried black fruit, and black tea.  The oxidative notes are well integrated into the fruit structure of this wine making an enjoyable experience.