Livio Felluga Friulano 2021

An unusually fragrant, floral and elegant dry white for this appellation in 2017. I love the fruit-salad juiciness on the palate and the long, clean finish.

The 2017 Friuli Colli Orientali Friulano is a well-priced, accessible and versatile wine, but don't underestimate its understated sophistication. You get a very pure and direct interpretation of Friulano, one of Italy's most distinctive white grapes, with generous aromas of stone fruit, melon, saffron and pear. This is a lean-bodied wine, but there is enough inner fiber and substance to keep the wine from ever feeling too thin or short. In fact, the intensity is just right.

This feels warm and hefty, almost like a pear-almond smoothie in its creamy texture and fruit flavors. Mild acidity and watermelon-rind greenness accent the rich texture, leading to a balanced and precise finish.