The 2012 Friuli Colli Orientali Picolit (500-milliliter) opens to gorgeous luminosity with rays of amber light. The bouquet is similarly bright and buoyant with fragrant tones of yellow rose, candied almond, wild herb, honey and preserved apricot. In short, the wine is sweet and delicious. Picolit-based dessert wines from Friuli Venezia Giulia are precious and unique. Production is very small and this category of sweet wine is not well known outside its native region.

This golden Picolit, a rare dessert wine from northeast Italy, opens with bright aromas of apricot, peach soda, dried herb, honey and toasted nut. It’s smooth, sweet and generous on the long finish. Try pairing it with aged cheese instead of dessert.——M.L.(12/15/2011)—— 90

This chewy Picolit is characterized by candy or saccharine aromas of sugar-coated orange peel, honey roasted nuts and dried apricots. The dessert wine boasts a dark, copperish color and loads of chewy consistency in the mouth. It’s very sweet; almost too much so.——M.L.(12/15/2009)—— 90

Brilliant and luminous, this tasty Picolit offers pretty golden highlights and aromas of citrus zest, almond, honey and cola. It exhibits a traditional, elegant style and ends with bright, refreshing notes of acidity.——M.L.(12/15/2008)—— 90