2023 Dalia Maris 'Piccolo' Bianco, Friuli

80% Friulano, 20% Ribolla Gialla

When the vintage permits, Giampaolo makes “Piccolo” – a blend of the same grapes from the same locations with the fruit that I felt did not deserve to be in “B”. Here he borrows another practice from Hermitage: vinify each plot separately, evaluate the quality, and decide how blending can achieve more complexity depending on the vintage.

Dalia Maris is a project founded by Giampaolo Venica, whose family produces the outstanding Venica e Venica wines. Giampaolo's vines are 60 to 80 years old with very low yields allowing maximum terroir expression. He ages the wine two years in barrels from the same cooperage as Jean-Louis Chave, aiming to make a Friulian wine modeled on white Hermitage. Plenty of salty minerality and orchard fruit that speak to Friuli and create a crunchiness in the texture.