Tastes better in Spain — 7 months ago
What a beautiful spring day in Minnesota!
The glorious, golden sunshine called us outdoors and inspired us to crack into this 2012 Arnot-Roberts “Amphora” Ribolla Gialla.
We had the pleasure of blind tasting the 2010 vintage when we visited Arnot-Roberts last year. Check out my IG post (@Sips_Ensemble) from June 9, 2022 for more details on that magical visit!
This wine is made from the Ribolla Gailla variety, an ancient and rare grape grown most notably in the Friuli region of northeastern Italy and neighboring Goriška Brda region of Slovenia (where it’s called Rebulla).
Here is a lovely Napa expression coming from the Vare Vineyard in Napa’s Oak Knoll District, which is farmed organically by the esteemed Steve Matthiasson. Growing Ribolla in the Vare Vineyard dates back to 2001, when cuttings were brought over from Friuli, Italy for planting.
Settled at the base of the bottle we can see the lees (fine particles from the yeast), an indication this wine was likely unfiltered (or minimally filtered), lending richness and texture while also helping to preserve the wine.
It’s justifiably showing some signs of age with its deep golden hue and honeyed, nutty notes; yet it still offers round primary notes of yellow apple, bosc pear, quince, orange peel, grapefruit pith, cantaloupe, honeysuckle, white blossom, and wet slate, with a notable creaminess.
Cheers to sipping delicious wine on a delicious day! — 8 months ago
Truly special — 3 months ago
Vintage 2015 | the stubborn Baga grape finds its Master in Filipa Pato and William Wouters. Fermented and aged in amphora. It gets a light footed structure and mineral typed taste with a velvety mouthfeel. Great effort! | paired with a simple pasta tomatosauce and a steak afterwards — 10 months ago
Thanks Kim 🤗 — 6 months ago
Rainy Saturday night at home listening to Lady Blackbird. Smoky, sultry, spellbinding. Fresh, with lots of finesse. Stewed fruits on the nose with hints of minerality. Some spice on the palate. Subtle hints of dried longan.
Blend of Niellucciu, Sciaccarellu, Minustello, Carcaghjolu, and Moresconu. Northwest- and south-facing vineyards on a windswept clay-limestone terroir. The estate has been certified organic since 2002 and the vines have been farmed according to biodynamic principles since 2006. The yield for this cuvée was 25 hl/ha. After hand-harvesting and sorting, the grapes are 100% destemmed and vinified with indigenous yeasts in clay amphorae. The wine is neither fined nor filtered. No SO2 added.
** Note: This wine will benefit from some time to breathe prior to drinking. **
“A rich, intense nose with notes of ripe fruit and spices. The palate has great volume, finesse and freshness – a pure and balanced wine. The amphora, this ancient vessel of winemaking, has been mastered to perfection by Canarelli.” Cave Pur Jus — 10 months ago
Lance E. Farman
Complex yet delicate. 2015 vintage is in a great spot. Pinot Gris can be interesting and this proves it. — 2 months ago