The 2011 Friuli Isonzo Rive Alte Chardonnay Ciampagnis Vieris is a special wine and one of the most beautiful Chardonnays to come from northern Italy. It occupies that magical margin between elegance and power that is so rare to achieve even for the most experienced winemakers. Nutty notes are first to peel off the bouquet despite the fact no oak is used here (instead it matures on the lees for six months). Yellow rose bud, apricot, honey, nectarine and exotic fruit follow in slow succession. All points come together with seamless integration. A bright point of acidity accompanies the soft fleshiness of the mouth-feel. Drink: 2014-2018. Gianfranco Gallo makes some of the beautiful white wines available in Italy today. He has brilliantly captured the essence of Friuli thanks to the clarity of the aromas in his wines, from both indigenous and international grapes, and the profoundly moving manner in which they caress the palate. They are silky, smooth and delightful. The results also prove outstanding in the uneven 2011 vintage. Vie di Romans, to me, represents the pinnacle of Friuli winemaking pedigree. All these wines are imported to the United States except the Dut’Un white blend. Importer: Vias Imports, www.viaswine.com