Teran-osaurus Rex!
2006 Zidarich Teran, Prepotto, Friuli
The king sat in Dunfermline toon drinking the bluid-red wine
Prepotto, a small village in the municipality of Duino-Aurisina, overlooks the Gulf of Trieste. It is located in the heart of Carso/Karst that distinguishes itself for its peculiar geological structure, formed mostly by particularly waterproof limestone. The dominant elements of Karst are the brightness of the stone and the red soil that covers some of these areas. The territory is frequently under the impact of Bora, a typical, cold and violent local wind that can exceed 120 km/h. The climate is influenced by continental weather on the plateau and by Mediterranean weather that brings milder weather conditions from the sea. In these conditions Benjamin cultivates his vineyards, named by the local toponyms Prulke, Ruje, Lehte etc.
All Zidarich’s vineyards are formed by the typical Carsic iron-red soil. The vines are planted at an altitude of 280 metres above sea level and trained in the Guyot and alberello methods and are planted at a high density. The single vineyards are rather small, but cultivated with maximum attention, concentration and care. Vines are densely planted (8,000 – 9.000 vines per hectare), viticulture is biodynamic, harvest by hand.
After a period of maceration the wine is then fermented with its wild yeasts and transferred to botti in which it is aged for two years before release. Zidarich believes that the growth of a natural wine depends on its environment.
The natural habitat of our wines is in the underground cellar. Here they are kept on a steady temperature and natural humidity and can finally start their path of essence.
The cellar was built on a presumption that man’s work has to mingle with natural elements. Various underground levels were in part carved out of the dramatic rock formations in a sinkhole filled with red soil. The remaining rocks were than used for building entirely handmade walls and vaults. Modernity and tradition have merged in the creation of an architecture, characterized by interior articulated volumes, like an itinerary full of surprises and unique peculiarities in their formal and functional conjunction. From the ground level that has been arranged as a tasting room with a terrace facing on one of the most beautiful views in the region, one can descend to different working and storage areas up to the last cellar built fifteen metres below the ground.
The Teran (or more onomatopoeic Refosco) is a truly paregoric potation, fabulously digestible as if iron-filings had been distilled into the wine and made into a blood-enriching medicine. At 12% it is as bracingly refreshing as a white wine. You can smell the terroir: sea breeze over bloody red soil and karst limestone, whilst the fruit almost chews itself in your mouth, the acidity encourages a good roll-around and a ripe tartness engages and sooths the tongue simultaneously. Red fruits? You bet your sweet bippy. Fragolino, cherries, sloes, bitter raspberries gush effortlessly across the palate. The tannins are so fine they barely seem to exist. Food is called for and a plate of prosciutto crudo magically appears. Yum.