The 2014 Friuli Colli Orientali Ribolla Gialla di Rosazzo does a great job of taming an extroverted and expressive grape variety. Ribolla Gialla can sometimes deliver heavy or cloying aromas. Instead, this wine exudes lightness, crispness and luminosity. The aromas include white peach, blanched almond and crushed oyster shell. In the difficult 2014 vintage, that lightness goes a little too far. The wine's mouthfeel is very lean with moderate intensity. This wine is an appropriate short-term white to drink within the next 12 months.

Neutral fruit tones and drying mineral notes sum up Rosazzo’s low intensity aromas. The wine delivers more personality in the mouth thanks to its medium density and compact feel. Pair it with baked mussels au gratin.——M.L.(8/1/2009)—— 86