From: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Critical Acclaim: Antonio Galloni AG 94
"The 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Vieris wafts up with a spritz of lemon zests and savory herbs complemented by wet slate. It’s silken and pliant with underlying energy, as today, the density of the fruit is more prominent; yet below it all, a saturation of saline-minerals collects. This tapers off long with sapid concentration, yet also the residual acids to balance. The 2020 is a Vieris to bury deep in the cellar." -Vinous
JS 92 Rated 92 by James Suckling
Green-fruited white with aromas of pink grapefruit, bell peppers, lemon leaves and lime curd. Full-bodied with a dense, compact palate. Lots of green-papaya and grapefruit character. Drink now.
WS 90 Rated 90 by Wine Spectator
Offering a nose of chopped chervil, crushed pine and flint, this fresh and fragrant wine transitions on the palate to show a plush texture and a subtle weave of pink grapefruit granita, gooseberry and white pepper. Long, chiseled finish. Drink now through 2025. 600 cases made, 200 cases imported.
WNR
Taste: On the nose, lemon zests and savory herbs (sage and lemon verbena) meet ripe yellow fruit, grapefruit and ginger, underscored by a note of wet slate. Take your first sip, and you're greeted by a vibrant palate where the wine's character truly unfolds. The fruitiness promises freshness, effortlessly balanced by an intriguing minerality. There's a pleasing complexity here—the interplay of ripe fruit, tangy acidity, and mineral undertones that converge to create a rounded, well-structured wine.
Pairing: The 2020 Vie de Romans Vieris Sauvignon Blanc, with its complex flavors and bracing acidity, is versatile when it comes to food pairing. For a simple yet exquisite pairing, try it with grilled white fish topped with a lemon-herb sauce (check out the recipe below). The wine's citrusy notes will complement the lemon, while its acidity cuts through the fish's richness.
The wine's inherent minerality and herbaceous undertones make it a brilliant match for fresh, green salads sprinkled with goat cheese. Other matches made in heaven include risotto with spring vegetables and scallops, dishes with herb-driven sauces over chicken, tofu or fish and served alongside pasta or polenta.
Flounder With Herb Blossom Butter
By David Tanis
About. Deep in Italy's northeastern Friuli region, along the Slovenian border, lies a beacon of fine white wine production: the Vie di Romans winery. Known for their masterful use of international varieties—Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay—and local Friulano grapes, Vie di Romans has an intriguing story that adds layers to its wine-tasting experience.
Despite bearing the family name, Gallo, the winery had to concede to the giant Californian wine producer with the same name. The estate adopted the name Vie di Romans—a blessing in disguise, given its historical and geographical significance. Translated as 'Road of the Romans', it pays homage to the Roman road that once linked the two primary towns in Friuli, running through the quaint village of Mariano del Friuli, home to the winery and one of its Chardonnay vineyards.
In 1978, Gianfranco Gallo took the reins of the estate, which had been growing vines and producing wine for a century. His innovative approach and vision paved the way for a more modern winemaking era. Recognizing the land's ideal viticulture conditions, Gallo converted it into vineyards, later identifying and planting varieties best suited for the local climate.
The winery sits atop a plateau exposed to a fascinating confluence of weather patterns—cooling winds from the northern Alps and warmer breezes from the southern Mediterranean. This alternating weather pattern creates an excellent day-night temperature variation that encourages fruit ripeness and acidity, both perfectly encapsulated in their wines.
Vie di Romans wines typically deliver a consistent style: a linear structure with well-focused fruit, generous flavor, complex texture from lees aging, and balanced acidity. Gallo had envisioned this, crafting wines that hold great aging potential. According to the winery's export manager, Laura Zanini, they can easily age for 10 years, with some being enjoyable even twice that age.
Although Vie di Romans is predominantly white-wine centric, it has dabbled in small productions of Merlot and Pinot Nero. Will the red wine program expand? "Eventually," Laura Zanini suggests, hinting that the Pinot Nero is a charming addition worth exploring further.
The 2020 Vie di Romans Vieris Sauvignon Blanc: An Oenophile's Delight
The 2020 Vie di Romans Vieris Sauvignon Blanc stands as a testament to the winery's expertise. According to Antonio Galloni's Vinous, it wafts up a refreshing spritz of lemon zest and savory herbs, perfectly complemented by wet slate. Its silky texture is contrasted by an underlying energy, showcasing a prominent fruit density balanced by a saturation of saline-minerals. This wine is a testament to the aging potential of Vie di Romans' portfolio and a perfect candidate for storing deep in your cellar.
Simultaneously, James Suckling and Vinous Media both rate this wine highly. Its bright straw-yellow color hints at its elegance, while the nose reveals a complex mix of mineral notes and ripe aromas of citrus and exotic fruits. Fresh hints of sage and lemon verbena only add to its allure. On the palate, it is full, fresh, and persistent, with a pleasant finish of mint, lime, and minerals.
Eric Guido of Vinous asserts that the 2020 Vieris showcases the winery's progressive approach to white wine production. The balance between Continental and Mediterranean climates in the southeastern plains of Isonzo yields wines that age gracefully over decades.
The Sauvignon Blanc Vieris 2020 is a consistently-styled wine, making it a fitting pair for important dishes. Its vinification involves a low-temperature fermentation for three weeks, followed by eight months of maturation in barriques and a further eight months in bottles before release. As the wine pours, it reveals a brilliant golden yellow hue. The nose offers ripe aromas of yellow and tropical fruit, punctuated by hints of ginger, while the palate is fresh, enveloping, and well-balanced.
In Friuli, Sauvignon Blanc shines as a varietal, embodying the terroir's unique qualities. Its plentiful sunshine creates concentrated and full-bodied wines, but the region's cool, nighttime temperatures and distinctive 'ponca' soil provide a backbone of acidity. Vie de Romans Vieris Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is a testament to the region's potential for producing stunning Sauvignon expressions.
Finally, remember to make the most out of this wine's versatility. Pair it with herb-driven sauces over chicken, tofu, or fish dishes or enjoy it alongside cheeses or garlicky, herb-infused recipes. It's also excellent with seafood, green vegetables, and a range of herb-forward sauces like pesto, chimichurri, and mojo. Its versatility and uniqueness are what make the Vie de Romans Vieris Sauvignon Blanc 2020 a remarkable wine to experience.
