Another pick-up in Teglio w/ shared w/ our German friends in Wolkenstein:
1. Borgo di Teglio Savaian IGT: VerduzzoFriulano della Venezie (14.5%; L1; www.borgodeltiglio.it) BastianiStefano/Cormons 2013: Deep golden/bronze color; distinctly phenolic/resiny/cider/skin-contact white bit figgy/orangey complex nose; soft off-dry orangey/figgy/honeyed some phenolic/resiny/cidery bit tangy/metallic/chile powder lovely complex flavor w/ slight tannic bite; very long off-dry orangey/figgy/honeyed some phenolic/resiny complex finish w/ bit tannic bite; quite an interesting rose and best Verduzzo I've ever had until a week later. Euros 14.60
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Verduzzo is regarded in Friuli as a rather pedistrian grape, mostly used in blends w/ Picolit dessert wines or w/ Friuliano. I've only had 1-2 other Verduzzos and found them rather underwhelming. This skin-contact rendition was easily the best I'd ever had until my visit to Ronchi del Cialla a week later, where I was blown away by an old one Ivan pulled for us. But I still have no good idea of the varietal character of Verduzzo for making a dry table wine.
In the olden days, Verduzzo was commonly interplanted w/ Picolit and made as a field blend. Some 40-50 yrs ago, when they started planting isolated blocks of Picolit, the yield of the Picolit plunged because of millerandage (hens & chicks). They labeled the problem as a malady they called "floral abortion". Turns out it was not a disease at all but simply the fact that Picolit was a sterile variety and need interplanting with other varieties to properly pollinate. Verduzzo had filled that role in olden times.
Tom