Livio Felluga Illivio DOC
Friuli Colli Orientali, Italy
Vintage:2017 (Past)
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Reviews
JamesSuckling.com
93 Points
February 22, 2021, James Suckling
“Aromas of apple pie, lemon curd, smoked almonds and beeswax. It’s full-bodied and creamy with tangy acidity. Round, layered and delicious with a smoky, saline finish. Drink or hold.”
The Wine Advocate
94 Points
February 11, 2021, Monica Larner
“A blend of Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay and Picolit, the Livio Felluga 2017 Friuli Colli Orientali Illivio is a true beauty. This is a mildly creamy and textured wine that hits all the right palate pressure points. It offers density and warm-vintage intensity but is never heavy or flat. Indeed, the wine is teeming with energy, depth and a unique personality that pegs it to the verdant hills and colorful rose gardens of Friuli. This corner of northeast Italy comes alive in the spring, and this wine blossoms in the mouth.”
Vinous Media
90 Points
January 2021, Eric Guido
“The 2017 Illivio Bianco mixes candied citrus with notes of rich brown spice, sweet herbs and dried peaches. Its blending of creamy textures to stimulating acids creates a soothing yet high-energy expression. Oak-derived vanilla and dried ginger comes through as a well-played underpinning to the wine’s vibrant, ripe fruit profile. Although I’m craving more length here overall, the 2017 is a pleasure to taste. The Illivio is a blend of Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay and other indigenous white grapes that are fermented and left to refine on the lees for ten months in French oak.”
Overview
At 100 years old, the founder and patriarch, Livio Felluga, was accredited with innovating and mastering modern winemaking in Italy. Back from WWII, he sealed a deep bond with the hillsides of Friuli by reviving the vineyards of Rosazzo, later establishing him as “the patriarch of the wines of Friuli.”
In 1956, when Livio anticipated an implementation of appellation of origin, he chose an ancient map of the area to create an iconic label to tell the world the story of his wines. Pioneering vision, deep knowledge, respect for the vineyards, and obsession with quality, once embodied by Livio Felluga himself, have been proudly carried out by the company over the years.
Today, the family-owned winery is led by Livio’s son, Andrea Felluga. Known for producing lush, crisp and well-balanced wines, the winery’s reputation extends well beyond the region of Friuli and its wines are recognized in a class with the most esteemed producers from around the world.
Created by Livio Felluga’s children, who dedicated the wine to him for his 85th birthday, Illivio reflects the personality of the family’s “patriarch,” uniting strength with elegance.
Winemaking
The grapes are carefully destemmed and left to macerate for a short period. Next, the fruit is soft crushed. The must obtained is then allowed to settle. The now-clarified must ferments at controlled temperatures in small casks of French oak, where it matures for about ten months. After fermentation, the wine was left on the lees in the small oak casks for about ten months. The bottled wine was aged in temperature-controlled binning cellars.
Tasting Notes
The color is an intense straw yellow. The nose is intense, complex, elegant and embracing; with notes of quince, caramel, raisin, papaya, candied citrus, linden honey, Mediterranean maquis and roasted pine nuts. The palate is elegant and balanced; intriguing fusion of fruity notes mirabelle plum and medlar and buttery notes of panna cotta and cashew that fade into mineral sensations of flint and hints of nori seaweed.
Food Pairing
Pairs beautifully with fish, risottos, and fresh cheeses. Best served between 55°F and 59°F.
Technical Information
Varietals: Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Picolit
Soil Composition: Marl and sandstone flysch of Eocene origin