It’s time for the historic Aquileia appellation, close to the Adriatic Sea in southeastern Friuli-Venezia Giulia, to have its moment. While it is Friuli’s smallest DOC, Aquileia nonetheless claims a rich viticultural history dating to the Roman Era. And it was the expressive, sumptuous wines of Francesco Tarlao, a young winemaking talent making serious waves in his home region, that put the endless potential of Aquileia on our vinous radar. Cool aromatics with violets, warm plums cedary spice and a little clean earth segue to the well-balanced medium-bodied palate with more plummy fruit, a floral note and a touch of pepper on the finish all framed by soft tannins.
