Italy – Ronco Severo Merlot Riserva ARTIUL 2012

Domaine and vineyard

The Winery Ronco Severo is located in Prepotto, a small town of the renowned area of ​​the DOC Friuli eastern hills in an area that stretches along the hills of the province of Udine near the border with Slovenia. A special and unique area to multiple factors: the Julian Alps fix the screw from the cold north winds; the beneficial influence of the sea not far away; the particular geological characteristics of the soil: marl and sandstone cliffs that crumble into fragments in scaly surface and gradually in fine clay (the so-called "ponka", Friulian term that identifies the marl).

The story begins in the early postwar years when the grandfather and uncles from the nearby Venetian buy land in the area of ​​Prepotto. Family of peasant origins devoted to agriculture and livestock, but also eager to devote themselves to growing grapes. Reflow, the ancient vineyards and restored the old house that becomes at the same time house and cellar. Stefano driving the nineties but the revolution that takes place under his leadership is more recent. His early years following the familiar furrow moderately successful. But Stefano seeks passion in what he does and tries to pass it in his wine.

In about 8 hectares of vineyard practice viticulture that respects the earth so manic and nature. They are put to tender herbicides and chemical fertilizers. The treatments performed using only sulfur and copper. The harvest took place exclusively by hand with small productions (45-50 quintals per hectare) and healthy grapes to perfect ripeness.

In the cellar the grapes both white and red undergo long maceration on the skins using only indigenous yeasts. They are used vats 30 hl truncated-cone for the whites, while for red is sometimes also uses some barrique. No light filtering, leading to obtain wines sometimes slightly veiled with very intense colors. It is added a small amount of sulfur only at bottling. They are produced annually, depending on the season, 20/25 thousand bottles.

The results are natural wines that displace the Italian market and regular clientele but in the long term collect the deserved success.

The whites are the Pinot Grigio, Friulano and White Severo, right blend obtained from a 60% Tocai Friulano, 30% chardonnay, 10% Picolit and a small portion of yellow Ribolla. The White Severo remains in contact with the skins in vats truncated cone about 40 days, while the monovines ten days or less. After racking into a steel container, the wine back in the barrel where he remained nearly two years to mature in the company of its finest lees, followed by an aging of about six months in the bottle. The intense colors golden and amber that are obtained, the complex and varied scents that emanate nose are accompanied by a perfect balance in the mouth where the shoulder of acidity and the alcohol extract and suggest a long and bright future for these wines.

The wine

The Ronco Severo Artiul 2012 is a pure Merlot reserves produced only in the best vintages. The grapes macerate on the skins for about six months and after racking, the wine goes to age for three years in oak barrels. A great wine that can give considerable emotion and with great prospects for aging potential.

Tasting Note

Date	06 December 2016
Wine name	ARTIUL	Vintage	2012
Nation	Italy	Region	Friuli Venezia Giulia
AOC-DOC	Colli Orientali Friuli	Grape Varieties	100% Merlot
Serving temperature	16-18° C	Alcohol	15
Price (in euro)	35 (1,5l)	SO2 (in mg/l)	25

Visual Examination		Taste analysis
Limpidity	Limpid	Body	Full
Color	Ruby Red	Balance	Balanced
Consistency	Consistent	Soft sensations	Warm, Quite Soft
Effervescence	//	Hard sensations	Quite Tannic
		Flavors intensity	Intense
Olfactory analysis		Flavours	Red berries
Aroma intensity	Intense		Pepper
Complexity	Complex	Finish/Persistence	Persistent
Quality	Fine	Overall evaluations
Aromas	Spices, Red Berries	Development	Ready
		Harmony	Harmonious

Food pairing

The wine holds up well pairing with red meat, game and aged cheeses. Exceptional even by himself.
 

Stefano Novello loves his Merlot. When I confessed to having opened the 2012 magnum he almost got me out of the house! : too soon! You had to wait!

But the wine is good. Really good. And the company deserved an exceptional wines. I'm not a lover of Merlot in general and yet I loved this wine. That I will not comment. Because it has to be tested.

Official website: www.roncosevero.it