Magnum of Ronchi di Cialla Schioppettino | 1999 (1500ML)

A long, long time ago, Schioppettino was admired for its quirky personality, its wild herb aromatics and Syrah-like spices. As Phylloxera raged in the 19th century it destroyed the majority of Schioppettino vines, and when it was time to replant, farmers chose the easier-to-grow, and easier selling, Cabernet and Merlots. Schioppettino went Poof, and Friulian bureaucrats considered it extinct, removing it from the list of approved Friulian varieties. In 1970, Dona and Paolo Rapuzzi were tired of selling typewriters. They visited the town of Prepotto and admired its unusual olive trees, a sign of prosperity and mild weather. Disinterested in planting international grapes, they hunted for native varieties and uncovered seventy vines of Schioppettino. After bull-headily convincing authorities to authorities to renew the grape's status, they repropagated vines in the Cialla Valley, where a high percentage of limestone and adequate rainfall make Cialla a unique terroir within the greater Collio Orientali del Friuli. Their first Schioppettino vintage was 1977, and today every vine in the world traces back to the Rapuzzi farm, which received its own zonal appellation "Cialla" in 1995. Schioppettino is Cialla. Cialla is Schioppettino.

A huge perk for anyone seeking out wines with age, Ronchi di Cialla cellars a considerable amount of their inventory, releasing wines as they wish, when the vintage speaks its worthiness. I've tasted several old vintages of Schioppettino, and every vintage is mind-bogglingly different, uncovering Schioppettino's secret multiple personalities. Bottled in magnum format, the 1999 is robust, showing more masculine notes of meat and dark fruits than the 1994 or 1992. The tannins are medium gritty and all the exotic purple, white, and pink spices unfurl on the palate. Party like it's 1999? Indeed. ~Allegra A