2010 Podversic Damijan, Ribolla Gialla, Venezia Giulia IGT Bianco, Gorizia, Italy.
This juicy and savory Ribolla Gialla is close to an orange wine with lots of skin contact and a golden hue in the glass, but not as funky as some making it a great introduction to the style, as it drinks easy and fresh with subtle dried herb and zesty citrus. Fermented on the skins for 60 to 90 days and aged in cigar/cone barrels for almost 2 years on the lees, no batonage, bottled and rested another 6 months before shipping, there is almost no added sulphur and the wine is as natural as it gets. The Podversic Damijan bursts from the glass with lemon/lime, rose oil, tangerine and melon notes leading the way with wet river stones, verbena, minty/spicy herbs, peach pit, apricot flesh and a mix of sour rind, candied dried citrus and chalk dust in the background. This complex white will certainly keep you guessing, it has an edgy serious side, but still offers refreshment and joyous vitality, drink now and for another 3 to 5 years as it is structured to age. This is a very compelling expression of a skin contact white, and while Ribolla Gialla gives more yellow, it is a fine example of an orange wine, best from 2015 to 2021.
($49 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive