classical quirky vino
Intense notes of apricot, passionfruit, lemon peel, jasmine tea, and sage combine with great tension and precision. The palate is elegant and lifted, without any heaviness, and finishes long and complex.
Sacrisassi means ‘sacred stones’. This blend of 70% friulano and 30% ribolla gialla is macerated on its skins for 15-20 days, as is the tradition in Friuli.
APPELLATION: Friuli Colli Orientali DOC
VINTAGE: 2019
STYLE: white
GRAPES: friulano, ribolla gialla
FARMING: organic
FERMENTATION: concrete
MATURATION: oak
FILTRATION: filtered
VEGAN: yes
ALCOHOL: 12.5%
CASE SIZE: 6
Distinctive and slightly savoury, with fragrant red cherries and cranberries, smoke, damp earth, and wild flowers over a core of minerality and elegant tannin.
Sacrisassi means ‘sacred stones’. A blend of 50% refosco and 50% schioppettino.
APPELLATION: Friuli Colli Orientali DOC
VINTAGE: 2018
STYLE: red
GRAPES: refosco, schioppettino
FARMING: organic
FERMENTATION: concrete
MATURATION: oak
FILTRATION: filtered
VEGAN: yes
ALCOHOL: 13%
CASE SIZE: 6
Dense, pure and very precise. Loaded with dark plum, mulberry, smoke and leather notes and savoury, herbal undertones, with a generous, silky texture.
APPELLATION: Friuli Colli Orientali DOC
VINTAGE: 2016
STYLE: red
GRAPE: merlot
FARMING: organic
FERMENTATION: concrete
MATURATION: oak
FILTRATION: filtered
VEGAN: yes
ALCOHOL: 13.5%
CASE SIZE: 6
This very nearly brought a tear to our eye the first time we tasted it. Pure and ethereal but not lacking in depth, with cool red fruits dancing over subtle, earthy spices and savoury minerality.
APPELLATION: Friuli Colli Orientali DOC
VINTAGE: 2018
STYLE: red
GRAPE: pinot nero
FARMING: organic
FERMENTATION: stainless steel
MATURATION: oak
FILTRATION: filtered
VEGAN: yes
ALCOHOL: 13.5%
CASE SIZE: 6
Set in the picturesque rolling green hills of Friuli, just a stone’s throw from the Slovenian border, Le Due Terre craft stunning wines that perfectly express their origin. The name means ‘the two soils’, and refers to the alternating bands of clay and marl sandstone flysch (locally known as ponca) that are prevalent in the area. Established in 1984 by Silvana Forte and Flavio Basilicata, and now joined by their daughter Cora, their aim is to work as honestly and transparently as possible in the vineyard and the cellar.
To that end, although this tiny 5-hectare estate is farmed organically, they are not certified, preferring that their name be a guarantee of quality. In fact, Flavio works to keep copper treatments even lower than the levels permitted under organic rules. Both ‘Sacrisassi’ wines are blends of local grape varieties, and as they are field blends, the proportions are decided by what is planted, not by adjustments in the winery. Each vintage can therefore express its nuances clearly.
In the cellar, everything is kept as simple as possible. Fermentations are spontaneous and not temperature-controlled. Regardless of the vintage, the wines spend 22 months on their lees in used oak barrels, with no racking. Avoiding oxygenation in this way allows Le Due Terre to use minimal sulphites when bottling. If this is ‘back to basics’ winemaking, the results are anything but.