Livio Felluga Friulano "Sigar" Friuli Colli Orientali 2019
(Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy) - [JS 93] [WE 92] [VM 92]

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.

Notes from the Winemaker:
The grapes used in smooth, elegant Sigar are both botanical and fruity in spirit: when perfectly ripe they lead us into the cool welcoming atmosphere of a Mediterranean garden. From the Ancient Belvedere, looking towards the Strada del Sole, you can see glimpses of the vines planted in 1963. This is a mass selection, whose origins are lost to us, its roots thrust into the flysch di Cormòns, the typical soil of this area, known as ponca in Friulan dialect. The bunches are medium-sized and fairly sparse. These vines have witnessed the recent history of our land and today they have an authentic story to tell of Friuli and its hills.

Winemaking: The handpicked grapes, placed in small crates, were destemmed and left to undergo maceration on the skins for a few hours. The wine was racked into 7-hectolitre terracotta jars towards the end of alcoholic fermentation, to permit proper temperature control. Malolactic fermentation took place over three weeks. Keeping the wine on the yeasts contributed to its creamy texture, and ageing in terracotta enhanced its minerally qualities.

Grapes: 100% Friulano

Tasting Notes: Lustrous yellow in the glass with captivating greenish hues. On the nose, the elegant portrait of an authentic friulano. Developing aromas of almond blossom and candied citrus peel blend nicely with floral notes of freesia, wisteria and thyme. Abate pears and Golden Delicious apples appear alongside breezy hints of freshly mown grass and rosemary. Intriguing hints of desiccated coconut and sweet spices like saffron and ginger are released in the glass. A refreshing, mouth-watering entry and satisfying, smooth flavor with a lively supporting tartness. Velvety and beautifully put together, with fresh, complex impetus imprinting a tangy moreish flavor.

Food Pairings: An astonishing wine to enjoy with raw clams; linguine with sea urchin; risotto with salicornia and peverasse clams; cuttlefish with puréed peas, lemon and botargo; boreto alla graesana, a fish stew, with eels; as well as San Daniele prosciutto; chicken marinated in yoghurt and masala; duck à l’orange; or polpette with kale chips.

Ratings & Reviews

93 Points - James Suckling:
"Extremely exotic, with peach-pie and cooked-apple character. Lemony undertones, as well as some honeysuckle and honey. Layered and flavorful. New single-vineyard wine from here. Drink now.” (7/22)

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast: 
"Originally planted in 1963, the Sigar vineyard continues to produce distinctive examples of Friulano. Both fruit forward and herbal at the same time, this wine is dynamic from start to finish. Mixed stone fruits and fresh leafy herbs dominate the nose. The palate is tart, textured and layered between mineral, fruit and herbal notes, with a slight almondy accent on the finish. Drink now–2035." — Jeff Porter (7/1/23)

92 Points - Vinous:
"The 2019 Friulano Sigar is understated in the glass, hinting at nuances of young peach, chamomile and wet stone. This soothes with its weighty, nearly glycerol textures, all balanced by a core of brisk acidity and saline mineral tones. Dried apricot and lemon custard notes come forward toward the close. The 2019 finishes with tension and length, leaving a citrusy concentration under an air of tropical inner florals. The Friulano Sigar makes the taster work a little to uncover its hidden charms, yet they are worth hunting for. What a beauty."