Region and Vineyards
Friuli Isonzo sits in Italy's far northeast, a cool plain shaped by the Isonzo river. The area divides into contrasting terraces; the Rive Alte on the right bank shows leaner, red-gravel soils often credited with the DOC's most characterful wines. The broad day-night shifts, aided by cool easterly winds, preserve acidity and perfume while late picking pushes flavor concentration.
Dessimis comes from two parcels totaling nine hectares in Mariano del Friuli at 34 m altitude. Soils are shallow, with gravel and reddish clay rich in ferrous and aluminum oxides, offering excellent drainage. Vines average 23 years, planted densely (6,000-7,800 vines/ha) and trained Guyot with spur pruning for controlled yields and flavor intensity.
Winemaking
The wine is 100% Pinot Grigio. Grapes were destemmed and gently crushed, followed by a pre-fermentation cold maceration that enhances aroma and, with Pinot Grigio's naturally tinted skins, can lend a delicate copper hue. Fermentation with selected yeasts ran about 20 days at controlled temperature; no malolactic was carried out to retain tension.
Post-fermentation, the wine rested nine months on its lees before bottling, building texture and complexity without overt oak signatures. Key analytical data for 2022 underline its rich-dry profile: ABV 14.5%, total acidity 5.6 g/L, pH 3.41, and residual sugar 1.12 g/L (bone dry by EU definitions). Suitable for vegetarian/vegan drinkers; sealed with natural cork.
Tasting Notes
- Color: Pale copper/salmon ("ramato") rim from brief skin contact; bright and limpid. (Style inference consistent with technique and grape.)
- Aroma: Williams pear skin, yellow stone fruit, sweet-pastry tones and a saline, mineral thread; hints of melon and apricot skin add complexity.
- Palate: Textured and rich yet balanced; concentrated orchard and yellow-fruit core framed by vibrant acidity, subtle spice, and an emphatically long, persistent finish.
Did you know?
Vie di Romans is renowned for late picking and low yields, releasing wines a year later than usual to ensure integration—one reason Dessimis consistently drinks above the Pinot Grigio norm.
Wine Pairing Ideas
- Seared scallops with brown-butter and lemon: the wine's richness and saline snap mirror the scallop's sweetness while acidity cuts the butter.
- Saffron risotto alla milanese: concentrated fruit and lees texture complement the dish's creaminess and aromatic spice.
- Roast chicken with herbs and pan jus: body and length match roasted flavors; bright acidity refreshes between bites.
- Prosciutto and melon: the wine's ripe pear/melon notes echo the pairing; saltiness heightens its mineral finish.
