Refosco Dal Peduncolo Rosso - Vendrame Vignis del Doge 2013

Stephen Beaumont CSW CWE rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

The Refosco family of grapes are indigenous to Italy and flourish in the northern regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The Peduncolo Rosso variety gets its name from the red stems and the wines tend to be dark, deep coloured with distinctive plum, red berry and violet flavours and relatively high acidity.

I have not had many occasions to taste this grape and it takes a little getting used to. As we were guided through the tasting at a wonderful seminar in Toronto, organized by Simply Italian, it was suggested that this wine smells "like the handbag of my grandmother", and while this may sound esoteric, it actually describes the bouquet perfectly - violets and talcum powder!

Once I had assimilated the aromas, the sensations on the palate were rather pleasant. It had a smooth mouth feel, albeit with some tannins (it is a young wine), and the high acidity kept it vibrant and alive while the richness of the fruit balanced well. It is a wine that really needs food and I would pair it with game (think hare or wild boar) or simple roasts.

Although not currently available in Canada, I hope it will be soon. In the meantime, check out other Refoscos if you get the chance.