When the Ribolla is corked, open a Ribola!!

Miserable night at Doris Ranch yesterday, another bottle of Movia Ribolla (Fruili) was corked. That`s two in a row and the tuna steaks are ready to go. Bummer indeed but I had a fortunate back up from Cephalonia Greece.

WTN: `06 Robola of Cephalonia, Gentilini Greece.

Black synthetic cork, 13% alc, 100% Ribola, $18 Cdn. Pretty well known wine producing area, well-established winery at higher attitude than normal. Gravel soil should help to produce a distinct wine I`d say.

C. Medium straw, just starting to show some lemony tones.

N. Minerally wet stones, floral, citrus, very aromatic. Comment from across the table was "damp woods after a rain shower". Nice one!

P. Initial entry is bone-dry, good acidity, hint of nuttyness on the finish. This is very tangy and fair lively grip, would go well with shell-fish? Unripe pear dominant with some grapefruit. Medium-bodied and "some hazelnut as it opens". Developed some richness with the tuna and roasted red pepper coulis. Good buy, who needed the Movia?!!

Ribolla from Greece, who knew? Sounds like a great find, Bob.

Dan, take a looksie here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribolla_Gialla

So happy to hear you enjoyed Gentilini Robola 06 - I will tell my friend Gabrielle Beamish, an English woman, who has managed (nurtured more-like) the vineyards, makes the wine and manages the place working all hours with very few staff ... she's been there over 10 years now.

Pretty well known wine producing area, well-established winery at higher attitude than normal.

She will love the description of "higher attitude" ...

The vineyards are run along organic lines, even if they are not certified organic.

Ribolla is the speciality grape of the island of Cephalonia and is a very late ripener. Gabrielle also makes a mean Syrah (with a touch of the local Mavrodaphne blended in), but it's in very short supply.

Movia is not from Friuli (Italy), but from Brda (Slovenija). Geographically its the same territory, only different countries.

Movia is not from Friuli (Italy), but from Brda (Slovenija). Geographically its the same territory, only different countries.

Yeah, I made a silly mistake. I believe the border runs right through the vineyards. Otto has a lot of interest in this area from past posts?

ah, it's easy to make such mistake, if the wine is called ribolla (not rebula, as it must be), or veliko bianco (correct is veliko belo), pinot nero (modri pinot) etc. many customers think they drink an italian wine.

Movia is not from Friuli (Italy), but from Brda (Slovenija). Geographically its the same territory, only different countries.

Yeah, I made a silly mistake. I believe the border runs right through the vineyards. Otto has a lot of interest in this area from past posts?

Btw, to make things even more complicated: Ales Kristancic, the owner of Movia, has more vineyard surface on the Italian than on the Slovenian side of Collio Goriziano/Goriska Brda.