Tried these two last night:
1. Ronchi di Pietro Schiopettino L'Anime de Nestre Tiare DOC: Friuli Colli Orientali (13%;
EnotecImports/Denver) Zorzettig Francesco & Fulvio/Cividale 2015: Med.dark color w/ slight bricking; strong cracked black pepper/classic Schio bit black cherry cola/DrPepper rather dusty/bit earthy slight metallicsome complex nose; fairly tart/tangy bit hard classic Schio/black pepper/DrPepper/bit blackberry some dusty slight earthy/loamy bit mature/complex flavor e/ light brisk tannins; very long fairly strong black pepper/classic Schio/bit DrPepper some dusty finish w/ light bitey tannins; a pretty classic example of Schio; showing some maturity and probably as good as it's gonna get. $21.49 (KK)
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2. Ronco del Gnemiz Schioppettino Dd'OC: Friuli Colli Orientali (13.5%; GiulianaImports/Boulder) San Giovanni al Natisone 2017: Med.dark color; very strong very spicy/cracked black pepper/classic Schio some herbal/dusty/OV slight oak fairly complex rugged beautiful nose; quite tart/tangy very strong cracked black pepper/DrPepper/very pungent/spicy structured/rugged some dusty/herbal fairly intense rather complex flavor w/ ample firm tannins; very long/lingering intense classic Schio/cracked black pepper bit herbal/dusty/OV tart/some tannic structured some complex finish w/ some chewey tannins; loads of classic Schio/black pepper character; quite structured & rugged & needs several yrs yet; not a polished as Ronchi di Cialla but awfully danged good. $41.50 (SFW&S)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Schioppettino was thought to be extinct for many yrs. In 1970, Paola Rapuzzi founded Ronchi di Cialla with the intent of making wine from indigeneous Friulian varieties. He found some 70 vines of Schio near the town of Prepotto that were being maintained for historical/archival purposes, but not for wine production. He propagated the cuttings at his estate and in 1977 produced his first Schio. Since then, there has been a quiet resurgence of Schio production in the region. Probably the Ronchi di Cialla remains the gold standard for Schio. Paola died a few yrs ago but his son, Ivan, maintains Paola's vision for the Estate.
Schio is a grape I'm very fond of. It has a distinct cracked black pepper character that suggests cold-climate Syrah a bit. It's a grape they should be planting all up&down the coast in Calif. JohnHoldredge produced the first Calif Schio from the McBride vnyd in the RRV. It is now made by Orsi FamilyVnyds, Andis in AmadorCnty, and Matthiasson in NapaVlly. I would love to see it in the hands of Morgan Twain-Peterson or Mike Lucia/ColeRanch/Rootdown. That & Refosco & Terrano & LaCrima.
We served the Pietro at BobbyStuckey's virtual Friuli Seminar last week. Alas, the btl was horribly corked. The Gnemiz, one of my favorite producers, just showed up in NM about a week ago.
Tom