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2012 Venezia Giulia Sauvignon
Edi KanteIn northeast Italy, Friuli’s Carso district is an unforgiving land of wind, sea, and stone. Vines cling to the bedrock for survival and somehow, through the adversity, produce fascinating wines that give a bitingly honest illustration of the bleak environment from which they arise. It is here that Edi Kante hones his craft, putting the Carso in bottle with an almost maniacal vehemence with the goal of proving the worth of his home turf. Tasting his Sauvignon, you’ll see that it could come from nowhere else.
Beyond being blessed with a highly expressive terroir, Kante believes in aging his whites extensively before release. One year on fine lees in neutral wood provides this Sauvignon with a textural lushness and tender creaminess, then six more months back in stainless steel tightens it up to yield the racy livewire we have today. An unfiltered bottling ensures its bite, flesh, and unique character is captured in full.
There is simply no better match for shellfish and other fresh pesce: deep-fried critters, a delicate crudo, baked or grilled filets, and seafood-based pastas all make for mouth-watering pairings. Alternatively, tuck some bottles away for several years: the mineral component seems to grow with time, while the wine maintains a striking purity and freshness. This sauvignon is Kante’s vehicle for an unbridled expression of stony, salty Carso terroir.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2012 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Sauvignon Blanc |
Appellation: | Venezia Giulia |
Country: | Italy |
Region: | Friuli |
Producer: | Edi Kante |
Winemaker: | Edi Kante |
Vineyard: | 14 years average, 2.2 ha |
Soil: | Clay and Limestone |
Aging: | Aged for 12 months in old barrels, then aged for 6 more months in stainless steel tank |
Farming: | Sustainable |
Alcohol: | 13.5% |
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About The Producer
Edi Kante
About The Region
Friuli
Friuli may be forever tied to its bland, acidic Pinot Grigios, which at one point saturated the export market, but a deeper look reveals a captivating array of unique grape-growing sites, distinctive indigenous varieties, and passionate small growers keen on preserving a rich tradition of winemaking.
Here in Italy’s northeast corner, the region is shared between the Julian Alps in the north and plains leading to the Adriatic Sea in the south, bound by the Veneto to the west and Slovenia to the east. While it is one of the wettest regions of Italy—and all of Europe, for that matter—Friuli benefits from the push-and-pull of cool air currents from the mountains meeting warmer breezes from the Adriatic. A crescent-shaped slice of foothills, where both play a role, tends to produce the region’s finest wines.
Nothing is more emblematic to Friulian wine than a crisp, peachy Ribolla Gialla served with thinly sliced prosciutto San Daniele, a local specialty. And yet, this only begins to tell the story: high-acid, mineral-driven whites from a number of local varieties including Tocai Friulano, Pinot Grigio, and Malvasia range from light and crisp to powerful and age-worthy, complementing Adriatic shellfish, hearty mountain cheeses, and everything in between. Native reds like Schioppettino, Terrano, and Refosco all have something unique to say, while there has even been significant success with French varieties like Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot, all long established in the region.
Friuli’s diversity is its strength, and it keeps us coming back for more. In fact, Kermit imported one of the region’s first organic growers toward the start of his career; our more recent collaboration with producers like Vignai da Duline is a testament to the enormous potential when devoted artisans put their hearts into Friuli’s fascinating terroir.
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
You don’t have to be rich to cellar a great wine.