2000 Venezia Giulia Merlot

I vividly recall tasting Radikon’s 2000 Merlot from barrel several years ago. At the time, it was a jaw-dropping, super-ripe fruit bomb. Today it naturally comes across as much more mature. Notes of dried cherries, tobacco, flowers, licorice, and autumn leaves have developed in bottle. Radikon gave his Merlot five years in French barrels, and although this is a very pretty wine, my sense is it would have remained fresher and more vibrant with less time in oak. The acidity spikes a bit on the finish and might have been better balanced by more freshness in the fruit. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2012. Stanko Radikon makes some of the most unique wines in Friuli. His whites see an extended period of contact on the skins and are aged for several years in cask, an approach which in many ways makes them similar to red wines. These wines should be served at cellar temperature (not chilled) in large red wine glasses, which will allow for their full range of aromas to emerge. Readers should not be concerned with the amber hues these whites often display as the color is simply a result of the super-stripped down style. In recent years Radikon has also eliminated the addition of SO2 during bottling, making these some of the most natural, unmanipulated wines being made anywhere. Radikon bottles his new releases in 500ml and 1-liter bottles. Importer: Louis Dressner Selections, New York, NY; tel. (212) 334-8191