From: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Varietal: Ribolla Gialla
This wine. "The 2007 Ribolla 3781 is a single-vineyard selection. It boasts an amber-orange color and an intense and savory bouquet that reminds me of a well-ripened cheese more than wine, yet in the best possible way. Dried peaches and apricots, a spritz of blood orange, Indian curries and something like a dusty old library book make this impossible to ignore. It’s round, silky and seamless in feel with an autumnal presence, as mineral-tinged baked apple is lifted by juicy acids. The 2007 keeps the energy remarkably high even as it flaunts its oxidative style and leaves the mouth watering for more. This is an experience for sure and a must for lovers of skin-contact wines, but if this category isn't your thing, it’s not a good place to make an early introduction. The 3781 spent four months on the skins followed by four years in neutral barrel and then held at the winery until release." Eric Guido
About Radikon. Stanko Radikon was a true icon of both the traditional wines and grapes of Friuli and of uncompromising, natural winemaking. The type of winemaking that Stanko begin implementing in 1995 wasn't new, it was actually a return to how his grandfather made wine.
Using extended macerations, or skin contact, with white grapes is now a global trend known to many as ""orange wine"", but this is indeed the tradition in certain regions including the Italian-Slovenian borderlands of Friuli. It was only in the second half of the 20th century that the region focused on more ""international"" styled wines, without skin contact and with fining and filtration.
After working alongside his father for a few years, Stanko abandoned this style, realizing that the local grapes benefited greatly from the traditional methods of his region. He also began bottling everything in specially designed 500ml and 1 liter bottles, as he preferred these for both serving and aging. This uncompromising approach was a tough sell as far as marketing is concerned, but Stanko didn't care.
His stubborn insistence on tradition and quality eventually paid off, and his wines and his estate are now revered around the world. Sadly Stanko succumbed to cancer in 2016 at the age of 62. His children, led by his son Saša, have taken the reigns and are continuing his legacy.
Saša has been deeply involved in the farming and winemaking for over a decade, and he is devoted to his father's philosophy. That said he is his own person, thoughtful and serious minded but also practical and, in the right mood quite funny.
