Tenuta Luisa Refosco 2013
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Suckling
James
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Ideal with cured meat, sausage, matured cheese. A perfect picnic wine.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Lavender, herbs and blackcurrants show on the nose. Full-bodied with a wealth of dense fruit, some fresh acidity and a fruity finish. Drink now.
Other Vintages
2018-
Suckling
James
A long family passion, beginning more than 80 years ago, began when Francesco Luisa, left a widower at only 37 years old and with six children to raise, had the foresight and the grit to purchase 5 ha (12 acres) of land.
Here starts the saga of the Luisas of Corona, carried on by Delciso, who followed in his father Francesco’s footsteps, and, above all, through Eddi, who, at only 13 years of age and with such determination., began working alongside his father. If you ask Eddi the secret of his success, laughing, he'll reply "I worked from sunrise to sunset, never looking at my watch, with a fervor and a love for my profession". Even today, Eddi gives help and support to his two sons, Michele and Davide, two separate generations that can sagely unite tradition and a continual search for innovation, whilst respecting the basis of their art and the terroir itself. It is really this union of the family, and this vortex of enthusiasm, courage and foresight that has allowed the Tenuta Luisa to grow consistently over the years, so that it now has 75 ha (185 acres) under vines and produces more than 350.000 bottles a year which are exported all over the world.
After growing in the Friuli region of NE Italy for the last 2,000 years, Refosco has adapted to both the region’s hillside vineyards and flatter plains. Hardy enough to withstand any tumultuous fall weather, Refosco finishes ripening relatively late in the season; its intense fruit and aromatics require the time. Interestingly Refosco is related to the Teroldego grape of Trentino through their common parent grape, Marzemino. Somm Secret—It was documented in 1390 that Refosco was the favorite wine of Augustus Caesar’s second wife, Livia.
The source of some of Italy’s best and most distinctive white wines, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is where Italian, Germanic and Slavic cultures converge. The styles of wines produced in this region of Italy's far north-east reflect this merging of cultures. Often shortened to just “Friuli,” the area is divided into many distinct subzones, including Friuli Grave, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Collio Goriziano and Carso. The flat valley of Friuli Grave is responsible for a large proportion of the region’s wine production, particularly the approachable Pinot grigio and the popular Prosecco. The best vineyard locations are often on hillsides, as in Colli Orientali del Friuli or Collio. In general, Friuli boasts an ideal climate for viticulture, with warm sunny days and chilly nights, which allow grapes to ripen slowly and evenly.
In Colli Orientali, the specialty is crisp, flavorful white wine made from indigenous varieities like Friulano (formerly known as Tocai Friulano), Ribolla gialla and Malvasia Istriana.
Red wines, though far less common here, can be quite good, especially when made from the deeply colored, rustic Refosco variety. In Collio Goriziano, which abutts Slovenia, many of the same varieties are planted. International varieties like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc are also common, but they tend to be Loire-like in style with herbaceous character and mellow tannins. Carso’s star grape is the red Teranno, notable for being rich in iron content and historically consumed for health purposes. It has an earthy, meaty profile and is often confused with the distinct variety Refosco.