Venica & Venica

Venica & Venica – Merlot Perilla 2013 (90 tsomw points)
100% Merlot, 14 % alcohol

During my stay in Veneto I got my hands on this lovely red one from the Friuli region. I really enjoyed this 100 % Merlot.

This wine from Collio is produced with 100% Merlot grapes. This variety was introduced in Friuli Venezia Giulia By the French Count Teodoro De La Tour in 1869 and became quickly the most popular red wine of the region. In the ancient taverns, if you asked for a white wine, you had a Friulano; on the other hand, if you ordered a red, it was obviously a Merlot. 
The majority of the vineyards is located in zones that are too fresh to let the grapes reach a complex maturation, but “Perrilla” offers the best fruits selection. Twenty days maceration in contact with the skins and 12 months aging in French barriques (modest percentage of new wood). Spontaneous fermentations allow longer and delicate maceration and the wine isn’t filtered in the bottling phase. This soft and intense red expresses the freshness of the nights of its region.

My tasting notes:

In the glass a dark ruby red color.
On the nose intense and concentrated aromas of blackberries, dark cherries and ripe plums with hints of herbs, spices and cinnamon.
On the palate dry, medium/full-bodied, well balanced with a recall of the nose on the palate with still nice fine grained tannins. Nice long aftertaste.