M�rke: Conti Formentini

FURLANA - Friulano
Collio DOC

Tracing the wine-making history of Conti Formentini would be quite an arduous task for us as we would have to range back to the early decades of the sixteenth century. More meaningful and important however is to look at its evolution, the path that led it to interpret typicality in a new way, in a more modern and contemporary style that expresses the "real Collio" and all its values, making it possible to savour and exalt the unique characteristic of the vines and allow them to further express their already powerful personality. Its collaboration with the 30 historical vine-growers and years of studies and experimentation, have allowed the Cellar to achieve new levels of oenological maturity founded on the decision to opt for varietal purity and the rejection of complementary vines.

The grapes: 100% friulano.
The vineyard: vines that grow on the hills with the greatest vocation for this vine, in the communes in the zone of Zegla and of San Floriano del Collio, at an average height of over 200 metres; the vines, are grown using the Guyot or double-arched cane systems in soil prevalently of marlstone and sandstone, with an average density of 4,500 vines per hectare; the average grape crop is 8-8.5 tonnes/hectare, with a yield in wine of 65%.

Vinification: one part of the grapes, harvested manually in the second half of September, is placed on plateaux (about 20%) while the remaining part begins to ferment. When the must reaches a temperature or around 4-5°C the infusion technique, which envisages the addition of the grapes set aside to rest, is used; this technique favours slow fermentation which increases the spiciness, the perfumes
and the typical flavours of this vine.

The wine: a straw yellow colour, with tenuous greenish hues; an ample and fragrant perfume of meadow flowers and bitter almonds, with recollections of honey; a smooth, velvety, full and harmonic flavour with a highly persistent, distinct and pleasant, bitterish peach nut finish.

Analytical data: 12.70% alcohol; 5.10 g/l total acidity; 3.35 pH ; 4.70 g/l sugar; 18.5 g/l dry extract.

Optimum conservation: 2-3 years in bottles laid on their sides in a cool dark environment.

Gastronomic combinations: excellent as an aperitif and with fish hors d'oeuvres and with the typical cold cuts of the area such as Prosciutto di San Daniele.

Serving temperature: 10°-12°C

Curiosities: In local dialect, Furlanâ means "Speaking Friulan" This name evokes how much this vine has always been the history of Collio, the "flagship wine" of this frontier land.