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2019 Malvasia Istriana

Edi Kante
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That Edi Kante has been described as a madman is no surprise considering his . . . unconventional . . . way of doing things. Blasting a two-story-deep cave into the Carso region’s limestone to house his barrels is just the tip of the iceberg; his manic attention to detail and relentless pursuit of perfection guide every step of farming and winemaking to yield an incomparable set of wines. Edi’s bottling of the local Malvasia Istriana grape, with its fragrance of fresh herbs, spice, sea mist, and orange blossom, is a delightful way to get to know the wind-whipped slice of Friuli that hugs the Slovenian border.

Anthony Lynch

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Technical Information
Wine Type: white
Vintage: 2019
Bottle Size: 750mL
Blend: Malvasia
Appellation: Venezia Giulia
Country: Italy
Region: Friuli
Producer: Edi Kante
Winemaker: Edi Kante
Vineyard: 19 years average, 3 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%

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About The Region

Friuli

map of 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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Old wine bottles

Let the brett nerds retire into protective bubbles, and whenever they thirst for wine it can be passed in to them through a sterile filter. Those of us on the outside can continue to enjoy complex, natural, living wines.

Inspiring Thirst, page 236

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