2008 Gravner Rosso Breg
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Tasting notes
Plums, spices and mahogany. Bark and mushroom, too. Then some cinnamon and nutmeg. Dark chocolate. Full-bodied and chewy yet round and juicy. Rhubarb, black berries, and black olives. A rich and dry red. Chocolate powder and coffee beans. Made in amphora. Made from pignolo. Drink or hold.
Critic scores
Average Score
Eric Guido, Vinous
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
The aromas of the 2008 Vino Rosso Breg can be sensed before the glass even leaves the table, with steeped plums and clove nuances effortlessly rising up. With swirling, this becomes darker and spicy while gaining in volume and depth, unleashing a complex array of ginger and curries before giving way to dusty rose, menthol, red currant and balsam herbs. It washes across the palate like fine silk, seaming to caress all it touches with textural tart cherry and raspberry embellished by lavender and sage. All the while, a staining of fine tannins slowly saturates the senses, yet they are sweet and chalky, creating a well-managed tug of tension that lingers on and on. The Gravner family are genuine masters of Pignolo, from the complexity of fruit to its energy and, finally, its perfectly refined structure. Enjoy the 2008 now with decanting or lose it in the cellar for many years to come. It's a beauty.
About the producer

Along with the likes of Radikon, Joško Gravner – whose vines straddle the Italian-Slovenian border – is a leading light of the natural-wine movement. His skin-contact Ribolla Gialla has inspired many imitators, while the rare Pignolo is prized by those in the know.