Colutta, Schioppettino

Friuli Colli Orientali DOC, Italy – 100% Schioppettino (Ribolla Nera) Aromas of blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry, with a real hit of black pepper. The palate is dry and pleasantly grippy, finishing on notes of moss and forest floor. There's a light oak note, along with that woodsy undergrowth character and plenty of fruit. Serve it at 16–18°C with aged cheese, hearty pasta, red meat, or game. Schioppettino is a noble old Friulian grape that almost nobody outside the region knows. It was mentioned back in medieval times and was nearly extinct by the 1970s, until a handful of stubborn producers brought it back.