The rules for #RED+10 are straightforward. All mono-varietals and blends are accepted, whether they be produced from native or international varieties. Naturally the colour stipulation is RED, the wine must also be from the FVG region and most importantly it has to have at least 10 years on its shoulders. The current year being 2019, we are therefore talking about Vintage 2009 and older.

Convivial and relaxed as the atmosphere is, the focus is nevertheless intense. With 15 ROSSI on the deck, there was a good days work ahead… #TGIF (thank G it was a Friday)

Standing ovation for Pier Luigi Zamo’ and the culinary team at Vigne dal Leon for such a splendid spread. Notable on arrival was the welcoming selection of home-cured meats and the “Fuori Classe” Rocche dei Manzoni Metodo Classico Valentino Brut Zero Riserva 2004. A sensational traditional method sparkling Chardonnay from Monforte d’Alba in Piemonte, aged 120 months on its lees (i.e. 10 years before degorgement). 15 years on and what sublime finesse.

Hat’s off too for the magnifico Risotto alla Beccaccia, which provided ottimo company for what was afterall, the main business of the day… il Vino Rosso !

Infact it capped off a pretty decent decade for Friuli’s reds, which included 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001 & 2000 as vintages with positive notes. A little insight is a helpful aid, so let’s recall some of what happened in ’09. Weather patterns were close to the 10 year median. During the early vegetative stages, from budding / flowering through to bunch set, if anything, growth was slightly ahead. May was a good, relatively dry month, where flowering saw the benefit. June by contrast was the rainiest of the entire vintage. Fortunately though no significant events were reported. In particular neither Powdery nor Downey Mildew presented themselves to any worrying extent. So with all early growth stages occurring under favourable conditions, the vintage was subsequently well set.

When the alarm bell did rang, it was mid summer (late July-mid August ’09), when temperatures steadily rose. This accelerated grape maturation activity. Fortunately the major heat subsided in time to avoid any stunting to growth and ripening. Rolling into September saw rain in the first half of the month, while the 2nd half was marked by the return to a warmer spell. Again, clearly suiting the red varieties, by the months end, a healthy red harvest was delivered. The ’09 vintage registered 2.6 on the Consorzio Colli Orientali’s ‘Torrid Index’, which gives us some feel for it. Between 2.0 and 3.0 on the index is considered the benchmark for a good vintage. Anthocyanin levels were also noted as good.

And so today, 10 years on, 2009 is in pretty good shape. Of course one must always allow for variances in Friuli’s treasured turf & terrain. Whether by choice, terroir or a combination of both, naturally some producers fare marginally better than others. Yet across the board, the results testify that the V09 promise has come good. Most encouraging is how well the wines are still maturing with both assured balance and enduring vigor, which will surely continue to dispense evolutionary joy for at least another 10.

I mean, even I myself brought one. Historical events, married to commercial motives, have a lot to do with Merlot’s prevalence in Friuli. And with each passing year, I’m happy to admit, I love how Friuli’s Merlot continues to soften my ‘native’ cough. In this part of the world it makes a very fine wine, genuinely deserving of recognition. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA is a MERLOT Centre of Excellence.

In terms of the tasting etiquette, while the Cenatori taste and discuss, no points are conferred on the wines. That said, if any of you were to ask me what I thought about the MERLOT, well, from youngest to oldest, I’d give an extra nod to Ronco Severo ’09, Aldo Polencic ’09, Castello di Spessa ’03, Toros ’02, Castello di Spessa Torriani ’00 and Dorigo’s outstanding Montsclapade ’96 blend, which after all does contain a splash of Merlot.

What grabbed most about this tasting selection is simply this – the consistently high quality of all wines. FVG has been producing age-worthy reds for some time now. Indeed, just thinking about my old pal PIGNOLO, Abbazia di Rosazzo 1988… +30 years and still rockin’.

Red wine and Friuli-Venezia Giulia is an age-old fantasy being reborn. There’s so much to be learned, understood and shared with the world. More so now than ever before, especially with the evident impact of climate change.