2008 Comelli Paolino Friulano Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC

Mission Codename: Confusion no more

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Secure an exclusive Soave D.O.C. for our operatives

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Comelli Paolino

Wine Subject: 2008 Friulano Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC

Backgrounder:

The Colli Orientali del Friuli is located in Italy’s northeastern location and specifically in the Venezia Giulia. Home to some of Italy’s finest white wines, the region is well known for Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and, like today’s selection, Friulano (Tocai Friulano or Sauvignon Vert). While Pinot Grigio is referred to Tokay d’Alsace in France, it is not related to the Friulano varietal nor is it related to Hungarian Tokaji. To avoid confusion, the EU is now prohibiting the use of the name Tocai Friulano and thus this wine is simply known now as Friulano.

Thought to be native to Italy’s Veneto, Friulano produces wines of medium to full body, with bright acidity and fresh white and green fruit as well as distinct floral aromas and flavors.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – A clear straw yellow to pale golden in color that becomes slightly more pale along the edges. Subtle golden hues reflect through the clear core. When swirled, this wine shows off its springy surface texture and leaves medium fast thin legs along the side of the glass

Smell – Aromatic and medium in intensity with aromas of pears and green apple with a touch of citrus. Subtle floral and herbal notes along with hints of minerality also make an appearance on the nose.

Feel – Lively and fresh, this medium bodied wine is dry and crisp with a slight tingly sensation that hits at the mid palate and dances over the tongue into the finish. Bright acidity, a touch a spice and minerality hold on to the fruit and floral notes.

Taste – Fresh and juicy green apple, tart pear, peach and citrus flavors meld with subtle herbal and floral components from the nose.

Finish – Clean and medium long in length with lingering minerality and a characteristic white and green fruit bitterness that invites another sip.

Conclusion – The 2008 Comelli Paolino Friulano Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC is a fresh and delicate white that is very approachable and a perfect pair for a light lunch of seafood or antipasto. Bright acidity and minerality along with fresh and lively white and green fruit and its distinctive floral notes make this wine a joy to drink.,

Mission Report:

Dateline: Trieste, Italy – March 2010

Agent Baco Noir had long gone missing… every now and then, the crackpot command center, what I call my office, had received an unlabeled box with some spectacular wines and detailed intel reports. Those reports, always unsigned, had the distinguished characteristics of Baco.

I was in Italy, and got a call from my Ms. Money Penny saying that a box had just come in. Perfect timing, I though, I was in Italy when something arrived, perhaps I could get back on the trail. The wines were from the small boutique farm of Comelli Paolino in the Colli Orientali del Friuli.

Hot on the trail, I quickly arranged transport up to Faedis. From there I would hunt down leads. I new where to find Baco. The first place I looked was the cafes and the second was there shoe stores. She had a passion for wine, coffee and tall Italian shoes…. No luck at those locations (there was only two shoe stores in this small town), so I headed up to the winery. Once there, I was greeted by the family who informed me I was about a week behind. They indicated that they thought she had headed back to the Piedmont.

It wasn’t a total loss however, I had a chance to taste their delicious Friulano and also their Sauvignon Blanc (look for that wine in the near future).

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Comelli Paolino north of Trieste, Italy can be seen in this satellite photo.