This cabernet franc is a masterclass in low-intervention, old-vine viticulture from Friuli's Cormons subregion. Sourced entirely from a single, certified-organic parcel planted in 1960, winemaker Moreno Ferlat restricts yields aggressively to capture the deep genetic complexity of these historic vines. In the cellar, the wine undergoes spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats, followed by an extended 40-day maceration on the skins to build structural density. It is matured for 24 months in a combination of large Slavonian oak casks and neutral tonneaux, and then aged for an additional two years in the bottle. Bottled completely unfined and unfiltered, this highly allocated, micro-production bottling typically yields fewer than 3,000 bottles, making it a rare and coveted find for collectors of Italian natural wines.

On the palate, the 2019 vintage masterfully balances Cabernet Franc's classic pyrazinic markers with the distinct terroir of Friuli. It opens with an expressive bouquet of wild blackberries, dark cherries, and fresh tobacco, underpinned by a refined vein of crushed slate and white pepper. Strikingly vibrant for its depth, the wine shows a modest, balanced alcohol profile (around 13% ABV) driven by a lively spine of acidity. The tannins are remarkably fine-grained and chalky, providing a velvety framework that carries the dark fruit into a long, mineral-driven, savory finish. This is an elegant, terroir-centric alternative to Loire or Tuscan expressions, offering superb immediate complexity with the structural integrity to cellar gracefully over the next decade.