Pignolo – Tunella – 2019

The Pignolo from the Tunella Winery

The Pignolo from Cantina Tunella is a prestigious red wine, an authentic expression of the Friuli Orientali hills. This indigenous grape variety stands out for its complexity and robustness, offering a unique experience for lovers of full-bodied and structured wines.

The Tunella winery grows all its grapes according to the canons of integrated anti-parasitic control with low environmental impact.

The Winemaking

The production of Pignolo begins with careful thinning of the vines in June, ensuring the highest quality of the harvest. The grapes are hand-picked in the first week of October, selecting only the best clusters. After destemming and crushing, the must ferments for about 20 days, with frequent pump-overs to extract color and tannins from the skins. Once racked, the wine ages in the cellar for about four years, allowing it to develop complexity and harmony before being released to the market.

Tasting the wine of the winery

Visually, Pignolo showcases an intense ruby red color with garnet reflections. On the nose, it offers a rich bouquet of underbrush, sweet spices, spirit-soaked fruit, tobacco, and cocoa, with a slight mineral and balsamic note. On the palate, this wine is full and characterized by elegant tannins and a balanced freshness, making it enveloping and pleasant.

Food Pairings

This Pignolo pairs wonderfully with game dishes such as wild boar, deer, chamois, and roe deer. It is also excellent with braised meats and aged cheeses, making it ideal for winter dinners or special occasions. To fully appreciate its nuances, it is recommended to decant it some time before serving, at a temperature of 18-20°C (64-68°F).

THE AWARDS

2018
– Vitae AIS 3/4 vines
– Bibenda 4/5 grapes
– Gambero Rosso 2/3 glasses
– Veronelli 89/100
– James Suckling 91/100

THE  WINERY

At Cantina Tunella, history is written with passion and dedication. We are talking about winemakers who believe in doing things well, convinced that the words of a Friulian find expression in actions. For over fifty years, they have been producing wine of excellent quality. In Spessa, in the Colli Orientali del Friuli, grandfather Zorzettig, known as Min, began creating wines that attracted friends and acquaintances with their unmistakable taste…keep reading