Livio Felluga Sauvignon Blanc D.O.C. Friuli Colli Orientali 2023
(Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy) - [JS 91]

About the Winery:
The winery was founded in 1956, after Livio Felluga relocated from his native Istria, but the family's winemaking traditions date back to the mid-19th century. Founder and patriarch Livio Felluga is accredited with innovating and mastering modern wine making in Italy. While Felluga passed away in 2016 at the age of 102, his reputation for creating exceptionally lush, crisp and well-balanced wines extends well beyond the region of Friuli. His wines are recognized the world over as the finest in their categories. Today, the family-owned winery is led by Livio's son, Andrea Felluga.

The 500-acre Livio Felluga Estate includes 370 acres of rolling hillside vineyards in the Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli. Friuli's temperate climate, protected by the Alps to the north and moderated by the Adriatic Sea to the south is a winemaker's dream. The sparse soil of marl and calcareous deposits is ideal for the white varieties, and also for their complex red wines.

About the Wine:
The variety, of French origin, was introduced into Friuli during the rule of the Hapsburgs and was popularized in the early 1900s. A fresh and captivating wine, with unmistakable multifaceted aromas with marked notes of exotic fruit, yellow peppers, tomato leaves, mint, lantana and boxwood. A traditional Friulan wine.

Our Sauvignon vines are mainly Guyot-trained and have their roots in the Ponca soil (Cormòns flysch in technical terms), which is composed of marl and sandstone of Eocene origin, stratified under the sea over the millennia, lending our wines a unique tanginess and minerality. The harvest took place during the month of September. The healthy and perfectly ripe grapes were hand-picked in small crates, to preserve the integrity of the fruit. After gentle destemming the fruit was left to macerate for a short period, then softly crushed, and the must obtained was clarified by decantation. Temperature-controlled fermentation followed in stainless steel vats. At the end of fermentation, the wine was kept on the lees for a few months to increase its complexity, creamy texture and suitability for ageing. Once bottled, it matured in temperature-controlled rooms.

13.5% ABV

Tasting Notes: On the nose, the Sauvignon 2022 is polished, complex, vibrant and extremely varietal. Floral, with hints of boxwood, elderflower and orange blossom. Citrussy, with notes of bergamot, pink grapefruit, and tropical scents of pineapple and passion fruit. Spicy and pleasantly balsamic, with hints of ginger, white pepper, sage, nettles and medicinal herbs. Seductive iodised nuances of salicornia, graphite and flint in the finish. On the palate, it is lively and polished, showing complexity and good texture. Pleasant hints of white peaches, citrus and tropical fruits blending into a long tangy freshness. Well-balanced and beautifully lingering on the palate, closing on citrus and mineral sensations.

Food pairings: Excellent as an aperitif, Sauvignon is also an outstanding complement to asparagus, vegetable soups, legume soups and marinated fish.

Ratings & Reviews

91 Points - James Suckling:

A tight and restrained wine. The nose is focused on tuberose, melon and a bit of sage. Light- to medium-bodied, full of tension, with almost zesty acidity in the finish. Drink now.