Venica & Venica, Friuli
As suggested in Decanter, wine investors after a genuine collector’s item should consider purchasing a case of Tocai Friulano, as 2006 is the final vintage that this native variety will retain its name, now that Hungary has won exclusive rights to the name Tokaji, however distantly-related. The Cime is a fine ambassador for this interesting grape, showing delicate aromas of pears, yellow plums, cloves, wild flowers, waluts and hay and flavours including yellow apples, bitter almond, quince and cardomon.
The Venica & Venica estate
The Estate has been in the Venica family for three generations, and unoaked whites predominate. Collio's distinct microclimate has encouraged the Estate to vinify separately parcels of vines from different areas of the vineyards in order to highlight the complexity that is possible. Among their portfolio of wines, Gianni, Giorgio and Giampaolo make two of the region's finest Sauvignon Blancs (Mele and Cero) which bear comparison with the very best of Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé. After the heavy rains of 2002 and the blistering heat of 2003, 2004 allowed the vines to recover their equilibrium so that the wines from the current 2005 and 2006 vintages are the perfect balance of concentration, purity, depth and length.