2009 Vintage Tunina

The 2009 Vintage Tunina caresses the palate with juicy apricots, peaches and flowers. The 2009 is very nicely done for a year that did not provide the ideal conditions for this style of late-harvested white. Layers of fruit flow through to a caressing, energetic finish. Vintage Tunina is Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia Istriana and Picolit. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017. This is a somewhat mixed set of wines from Silvio Jermann. The flagships Vintage Tunina, Capo Martino and Were Dreams are less exciting in 2009 than they are in cooler years such as 2008, when less extreme weather balances some of the overtness that is typical of the house’s approach with the top whites. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to taste any Pignolos this year. Readers should be aware that Jermann is owned by my wife’s uncle. I have always viewed education as an important component of wine criticism. An article on Friuli without these wines would have been incomplete and ultimately the consumer would have been poorer for their exclusion. For those reasons I have chosen to include the wines in this report. Neither my wife nor I have any financial or other interest, direct or indirect, in this property. Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900

A blend of Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia Istriana, Picolit. Yield 40 hl/ha. TA 5.4 g/l, RS 3.4 g/l. Complex and off dry. Interesting and deep and satisfying. Long! (JR)