The Gallo family have been vine growers and winemakers for hundreds of years with the holdings in Friuli going back to 1820. Gianfranco first took the reins of his family’s cellar and vineyards in 1978 at the tender age of 19. He saw the potential of the soils and began reorganizing and replanting his vineyards. He wanted to create cleaner wines, choosing to farm through organic processes and focusing on quality over quantity. Through the years, the vineyard management and winemaking at Vie di Romans evolved, along with the region and trends, but always with an eye on the future.
This year we have an exciting allocation of Gianfranco’s wines to share with you, including, for the first time, some of his ‘I Climat’ series. These wines represent the fruit of more than 30 years exploration of Friulian terroir, sourced from specific parcels within the two cru vineyards of Vie di Romans and Ciampagnis, and are named for the families who cultivated these plots of vines in the distant past.
All wines will be sold on a first come, first served basis, as quantities are strictly limited.
I Climat
Representing a snapshot of the incredible influence of terrior, the research for I Climat began a number of years ago, with studies of all the factors and variables relating to soils, climate, biology, and winemaking represented by the individual sites in the Vie di Romans and Ciampagnis vineyards. Chardonnay was selected as the variety to focus on, since it demonstrates an innate, genetic-driven capacity to relate to the various soil-climate complexes in which it grows. The series comprises 6 different Climats, from which we have selected the 3 that show the greatest diversity.
2016 ‘Cortesar’ Chardonnay
Sourced from the Ciampagnis Vineyard, the Cortesar Climat is one of the coolest. A plot of moderately deep, silty soils over a deep well of calcareous limestone. The lowest alcohol of the 6 wines, this wine is a wonderful showcase of the vibrant Vie di Romans house style.
Retail 129.95 (6 btl/cs)
Only 4 cases available!
2016 ‘Glesie’ Chardonnay – 93pts, Rafaelle Mosca for Decanter
“A late-release single-vineyard wine from this top Friuli Venezia Giulia winery, Glesie spends nine months in stainless steel, nine months in French barriques and over three years in bottle. It offers generous aromas of tarte tatin, wildflower honey, cinnamon, flint, and a subtle note of light tobacco. Bright acidity and mouthwatering savouriness take centre stage on the full-bodied palate, balancing the varietal creaminess and leading to a mineral-driven finish extended by a kiss of oak spice.”
Retail 129.95 (6 btl/cs)
Only 2 cases available!
2016 ‘Goss’ Chardonnay
The Goss Climat is a shallow, sandy parcel rich wth iron & aluminium oxides that tint the soils. The vines here average only 10 years old, but contrary to the high vigour typical of younger vines, saw the lowest yield of the 6 plots. An extended fermentation allowed for development of a rich autolytic complexity.
Retail 129.95 (6 btl/cs)
Only 3 cases available!
Gianfranco practices consistent vinification strategies across the array of wines, an anaerobic environment for crushing & de-stemming followed by extended maturation on lees. This focus on consistency allows for elegant expression of variety and terroir from vintage to vintage.
2018 Longorucis Pinot Noir
Elegant bouquet of redcurrant, blueberry and sweet spices. Graceful and lean on the palate. Spicy and with great tannin structure. Long and complex.
Retail 59.95 (6 btl/cs)
Only 2 cases available!
2018 Maurus Merlot
The wine reveals a focussed aromatic attack of bright red fruit. The palate follows through on this promise, with pure red fruit supported by subtle wood spice and a ferrous minerality. Fine dry tannins on the balanced finish.
Retail 59.95 (6 btl/cs)
Only 2 cases available!
2021 Ciampagnis Chardonnay – 91pts, Eric Guido for Vinous
“A total seductress, the 2021 Chardonnay Ciampagnis lifts from the glass with an intense mix of lemon custards, sweet mint and confectionary spice. Its creamy textures soothe as a pure mix of ripe citrus-tinged orchard fruits settles upon the palate Here it’s the acidity that impresses most, finishing remarkably vibrant despite its intense fruit-forward personality while leaving stimulating hints of lime and saline minerals to linger. Vie di Romans captures an amazing amount of complexity within the Ciampagnis yet uses only stainless steel in the aging process.”
Retail 64.95 (6 btl/cs)
7 cases available
2021 Flor di Uis – 93pts, Eric Guido for Vinous
The 2021 Flors di Uis is as lively and vibrant as a perfect spring day with nuances of freshly squeezed lemons, wildflowers, wet stone and ground ginger. There’s a burst of inner sweetness up front, yet this is focused on purity as mineral and floral perfumes complicate its notes of tropical green melon. Lifted and racy in styler, this finishes with a salty flourish and lime zest notes that slowly taper off, revealing an utterly crisp finale. The Flors di Uis is a total charmer, a blend of 57% Malvasia, 35% Rhine Riesling and 8% Friulano.
Retail 69.95 (6 btl/cs)
Only 1 case available!
2021 Dolée Friulano – 92pts, Eric Guido for Vinous
“The 2021 Friulano Dolee is exotically spiced and vibrant in the glass, with an intense burst of lemon meringue complemented by sweet mint and crystallized ginger. Silky and supple on the palate, this boasts ultra-ripe citrus and orchard fruits balanced by stimulating acidity. This finishes with outstanding length and is spicy with lingering tropical melon notes. While the 2021 comes across as sweet, it’s just a trick of the acidity and fruit, as this finished at only 1.2 grams of residual sugar.”
Retail 69.95 (6 btl/cs)
Only 3 cases available!
2021 Dis Cumieris Malvasia – 91pts, Eric Guido for Vinous
“The 2021 Malvasia Dis Cumieris wafts up with a sweetly scented mix of dusty dried flowers offset by sage, nectarine and confectioners’ sugar. Silky yet pure in style, traversing both savory and sweet, this impresses with its notes of vividly ripe green melon traversing sour lime. The 2021 finishes with medium length and is remarkably pretty, leaving tropical inner florals to linger This perfumed beauty aims to please. “
Retail 69.95 (6 btl/cs)
7 cases available
2021 Dessimis Pinot Grigio – 92pts, James Button for Decanter
“From two separate parcels, this food-friendly single-vineyard Pinot Grigio spends nine months on the lees and at least another eight in bottle. It has a delicate strawberry scent bolstered by an intense, saline and mineral mouthful of spicy melon, pear, apple and apricot skin.“
Retail 74.95 (6 btl/cs)
4 cases available
2021 Piere Sauvignon – 92pts, Eric Guido for Vinous
“The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Piere is a spice bomb, holding my attention firm with a blast of ground ginger, cardamom, flint stone and curry before arriving at dried nectarines. It’s luxuriously silky yet lifted in style, with cooling minerality and acidity that motivates its floral-laced green citrus and melon tones. For all of its intensity, the 2021 finishes crisp and with a classically dry feel, as savory herbal tones resonate on. There is so much pleasure in this upfront, fruit-focused, yet truly seductive Sauvignon.”
Retail 74.95 (6 btl/cs)
4 cases available
