Food Notes > Wine

Italy: Count D’Attimis – Maniago

An estate that have one special characteristic: more than 70% of the existing vineyards are made up of vines from local biotypes

by Luca Bandirali
AIS

The estate is located in Buttrio, 12 kilometres south of Udine, in the district of the Colli Orientali del Friuli, a land of gently rolling hills known for its superior wines, across 110 hectares, nearly all covered with vineyards and has been in the family Counts d’Attimis-Maniago for almost 500 years. Ancient records in family archives contain many historical notes, such as how in 1140 ten Buttrio farming contracts were donated to a Benedictine monastery so the monks could make wine and oil.
Since then, Count d’Attimis-Maniago have maintained the commitment to producing the highest quality wines!
Their surroundings are a blessing, as the hills of Buttrio protect the vines from the severe north-easterly winds by sustaining a mild and ventilated micro-climate that aids the indigenous vines of the Colli Orientali del Friuli.
Beyond the unquestionable value of the land, the Estate has another special characteristic: more than 70% of the existing vineyards are made up of vines from local biotypes, meaning from a selection made directly on the vines of the grapes that are best suited to the hills in terms of the consistency and the quality of their harvest. While this decision has allowed Count d’Attimis-Maniago to always have perfectly adapted vines and produce truly characteristic wines, it does require a notably longer period of time between planning the layout of the vineyard and its actual realisation.
Head of production:
Francesco Spitaleri (Oenologist)
Alberto d’Attimis-Maniago Marchiò (Owner)
Year founded: 1585
Wine produced: 18
Bottles: 400,000
Hectares: 85 planted
Grapes: only own grapes

Pinot Grigio 2007

Description: the softness of its palate is of the Alsace school, with grape and pure grape in grape pulp. The scents of this harmonious softness, of this vivid clarity and olfactory fragrance; the soft palate of this captivating acidic/soft harmony, the total absence of any winey quality or bitter/spicy rusticity make every contact with this sample a succulent, distilled, powerful experience. It is a juicy melon with virtuous integrity and softness. Its sensorial characteristics are a dense, penetrating and inebriating caress of extremely persuasive fruit.

Final comment.
The worth of a glass of Count d’Attimis – Maniago grows softly and clearly. Its oenological clarity is exceptional, as is the floral clarity of the fruit in the Sparkling Brut Ribula, which is the estate’s best expression of the year. Another feature that is rare and praiseworthy is the softness in palate of all the whites, a persuasiveness that comes from the perfect ripeness of the grapes harvested, in the absence of bitterness and tartness of the palate. Extremely succulent blackcurrant in the Tazzelenghe 2004, with admirable olfactory integrity of intense, sharp, minty black cherry in the Schioppettino 2006. Golden grapes in the custard, pistachio and citron sweetness of the viscous Picolit 2006. The best wine tasted is the Pinot Grigio 2007. Its fleshiness, rounded character and clarity of expression are that of the grand crus of the Alsace region. Well done.

Count d’Attimis-Maniago
Via Sottomonte, 21
33042 Buttrio (UD)
www.contedattimismaniago.it

by Luca Bandirali
AIS
02 March 2009 Teatro Naturale International n. 2 Year 1

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