Radikon Ribolla Gialla 2020 1 Litter

Grape: Ribolla Giala
Vintage: 2020
Type: Orange

Originating from the hyper-steep, terraced vineyards of Oslavia in Friuli, right on the Slovenian border, this bottling represents the absolute pinnacle of the late Stanko Radikon's skin-contact philosophy. Ribolla Gialla is a thick-skinned, late-ripening indigenous grape that Stanko believed was entirely wasted when made into a standard white wine; its true soul requires extraction. Part of the legendary blue-label "Flagship" line, the hand-harvested fruit is grown on mineral-dense ponca soils (layered marl and sandstone). In the cellar, the grapes undergo an intense three-month maceration on the skins in large oak vats with zero temperature control or sulfur additions. The wine is then aged for a patient three to four years in neutral oak botti and rested for an additional year in the bottle. Released in the estate's signature, shareable 1-liter format with a narrow cork designed for optimal aging, it is bottled completely unfiltered.

In the glass, it pours a deep, luminous amber-orange with brilliant copper and burnt-topaz highlights. The nose is incredibly deep, complex, and wild, offering an evolving kaleidoscope of dried orange peel, apricot compote, black tea leaves, bruised yellow pear, and a distinct, savory undertone of white pepper and beeswax. On the palate, a "crystalline" current of high-toned, structural acidity cuts directly through the massive phenolic extract and physical weight of the wine. The prolonged skin contact leaves an imposing, architectural framework of fine-grained, tongue-coating tannins that provides incredible grip and focus. The finish is stunningly long, dry, and savory, leaving a persistent impression of dried citrus peels, dried herbs, and a powerful, salty stamp of crushed stone.