2010 Rosso della Centa

A 100% Merlot wine grown on just one hectare of a distinct marl clay hillside in Friuli, Italy. The wine is the creation of one of Italy’s top winemakers Nicola Manferrari and produced only in top vintages, this is as rare as it gets, producing just 1,200 bottles per vintage! Whilst more famous for their white wines, top grower Nicola Manferrari has a very special one-hectare plot dedicated to this iconic red wine. His ’85 was his first release and a critical success, described by the critics as "the first great Friuli red". Friuli still remains fantastic value particularly at this world-class level. Nicola Manferrari buoyed by its critical acclaim, continued to improve the wine further, reducing yield and increasing the vine density (more than 7,000 hectares per hectare). The wine is fermented in small 12 hl wooden vats and matured in small oak barriques for four years. Only the finest vintages are ever bottled as Rosso della Centa. Monica Larner (Wine Advocate) recently visited the domaine for a retrospective on the Rosso della Centa: "The experience was unforgettable... Looking over my scores, I can't help but notice how consistent they are across vintages... Results like these are hard to achieve, but not at Borgo del Tiglio." Larner did not have the opportunity to taste the mythical 2010 but we pulled a cork on it this week to find out how the wine has developed and we were blown away by the quality. This is a unique parcel unlikely to be seen again and is entering into a beautiful drinking window. This wine is a piece of Italian winemaking history and one for any afficionado not to miss. This is a superb rendition of Rosso della Centa, retaining everything that is great about Italian wine – the acidity, freshness, dried floral notes and herbal spice along with all the greatest assets of fine Merlot – the rich expansive multi-layered tannins that provide tremendous depth on the palate and an opulent mid-palate juiciness full of black fruits and now with age a beguiling leather and earthy savoury notes. Most of all, the wine has a tremendous endorphin-releasing energy that surges on the palate and brings a smile to the face with every sip. Now in its tenth year of age, the wine has a lovely balance of noble fruit and moderate tertiary development and yet still so much freshness. The overall balance underscores just how fantastic this wine is. Wow!