'Straight Jakot' Friulano 2020
'Straight Jakot' Friulano 2020
Friulano is a marginal variety in Australia and in Italy, where it’s pretty much only found in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. One of the first regions where the variety was planted in Australia was the Mornington Peninsula, thanks to the pioneering work of Kathleen Quealy and Kevin McCarthy. It was in fact Kathleen who introduced me to her good friend Joe Vaughan, one of the few growers of Italian varieties in the region. I was excited to test out a theory that I had that Friulano could work as both an aromatic and a textural wine.
For the second vintage from this vineyard and variety, fruit was harvested early in the morning late vintage 2020. After bringing the fruit back to the winery we put it in the cool-room for two days of cold-soaking to lend a bit of texture whilst preserving the aromatics. After pressing and settling, roughly 60% was transferred to mature barrels and the rest to stainless steel for spontaneous fermentation. Once fermentation was complete all the wine ended up in oak, followed by élevage on lees for seven months until blending and bottling without fining or filtration.
The unique Rutherglen fortified wine Tokay wasn’t the only victim of Hungary joining the European Union and receiving protection of its wine region Tokaji. Previously in the Friuli region Friulano was known as Tocai, and across the border in Slovenia it was known as Tokaj. On the Italian side of the border they officially changed the name to Friulano, but some producers – particularly on the Slovenian side – started referring to the grape as Jakot, merely a reversal of the former name. This is where I got the name Straight Jakot from, as it is also 100% Friulano.
Steve Lesczyzinski - Q Wine Reviews
”The sun setting with golden light peering through the trees in the distance, cool afternoon breezes and a plentiful glass of this Friulano for the win. Mouth filling with a comfort factor comes with some home-style warmth. A wine you can easily curl up to. Yellow flowers and yellow-fleshed stone fruits, shortbread, almonds and marzipan come calling early. The biscuity creaminess is a highlight too. A fine gingerbread spice flows to well-managed acid that slides in slowly and brings the mouth to water. A really clever wine I must say.” 93 points
Andrew Graham - Oz Wine Review
”I like Friulano, and wish we had more here in Australia. Light yellow colours, as expected, it’s pithy, with varietal honeysuckle and just-ripe, light nectarine and apricot fruit, with a phenolic tang and tight acidity to finish. That texture is ace. It just needs a bit more ripeness as it comes off a bit too clean and light. Still entirely drinkable.” 92 points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front
”Rich, unctuous, fuller figured white. Gummy texture, sweet citrus, ripe apple, a bit of lime cordial, some nougat/halva sweet nuttiness in the mix. It’s dry, bright finish despite the slippery, opulent feel, and all of that seems to work out in balance. I like this. Lots of charm and great to see a more generous white out there in the wild.” 91 points
Regan Drew - Vino Notebook
”Medium straw yellow hue. Dry, dusty nose with candle wax, light native blossom, wheatgerm and sawdust, before grapefruit citrus, ginger snap biscuit and beery malt. Dry and textural palate. Keeps on the straight and narrow with a fine focus of savoury fruit. Some intensity of acidity for a refreshing cleanse at the finish with lingering gingering spice.” 91 points
Stuart Knox - The Real Review
”Light to medium straw-yellow in the glass. Preserved lemons, lemongrass and ginger aromatics. Quite textured and weighty on entry: there’s deep honey notes over lemongrass and basil. Good length and finishes with a smoky spice note. Lacks a little focus at the end.” 88 points
