VINOUS RATINGS 2021 | Ronco del Gelso

RATINGS from VINOUS.COM by Antonio Galloni

Friuli Venezia Giulia – In Constant Motion

BY ERIC GUIDO | JANUARY 26, 2021

92 pts

Friuli Isonzo, Friuli Venezia Giulia

White wine from Italy

Drinking window: 2022 – 2026

The 2018 Friulano Toc Bas is stunning. Here I’m finding a sweetly spiced and almost tropical mix of fruit, complicated by notes of crushed stone, lime zests, candied ginger and vanilla bean. It’s a deeply textural wine, yet stopping short of weighty, as a stimulating mix of acids and minerals maintain perfect balance. The palate aches for another sip toward the finale, even as the 2018 flaunts its structural heft, leaving hints of green melon and citrus. With a few years of cellaring, we can expect to find even more depth here.
Eric Guido. Tasting date: October 2020

90 pts

Friuli Isonzo, Friuli Venezia Giulia

White wine from Italy

Drinking window: 2021 – 2026

The 2018 Latimis Bianco is sweetly spiced and perfumed, showing a healthy dose of its Riesling component with stone dust, smoky minerals, zesty yellow citrus and white peach. With time, it gains in depth and volume, taking on exotic florals with a hint of tropical citrus. It’s soft and soothing to all it touches, yet it’s also a bit understated in the mouth, with a salty, mouthwatering twang as this tapers off with notes of sour melon. The Latimis is a blend of Friulano, Riesling, Pinot Bianco and Traminer Aromatico.
Eric Guido. Tasting date: October 2020

90 pts

Friuli Isonzo, Friuli Venezia Giulia

White wine from Italy

Drinking window: 2021 – 2024

The 2018 Chardonnay Rive Alte Siet Vignis lifts up with a pretty display of sweet white flowers, crushed apple, pear and subtle yet enriching notes of sweet cream. It’s soft on entry, enlivened by brisk acids and a salty mineral twang with notes of melon laced with green citrus. The tension-filled finale seems to buzz on the senses for nearly a minute with ripe orchard fruits lingering.
Eric Guido. Tasting date: September 2020

89 pts

Friuli Isonzo, Friuli Venezia Giulia

Red wine from Italy

Drinking window: 2022 – 2028

The 2016 Merlot Sintesi dei Capitoli shows a dark and alluring bouquet, displaying black cherry and plum, along with hints of mint, tobacco and savory spice. It’s creamy yet cool-toned and streamlined on the palate, showing admirable purity to its fruit. However, this is a bit one-dimensional. Grippy tannins offset residual acids and minerals, finishing youthful dry. I’d give the 2016 a few years in the cellar to open up a bit more, yet I wonder if it will ever come fully into balance. I tasted the 2016 twice with consistent results.
Eric Guido. Tasting date: October 2020