The Remains of the Year…
… the famous title of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel could hardly be more fitting for Nikolas Juretic’s 2024 vintage. He must have felt awful on July 26, after assessing the damage in his vineyards following the devastating hailstorm that swept across Cormons. In some parcels, grape losses reached a crushing 100 percent, while others escaped with somewhat less severe damage.
Nikolas decided to make the best of the situation. What remained of the year ultimately found its way into Belo, a brillant white cuvée that he created specifically for this vintage. It brings together four grape varieties: 40% Ribolla Gialla, 40% Friulano, with the remainder made up of Pinot Bianco and Malvasia Istriana.
Each variety was vinified separately and, as always, with the utmost artisanal care. Following spontaneous fermentation, the wines were aged partly in concrete tanks and partly in large oak casks. Neither fining nor filtration was carried out before bottling, resulting in a wine defined by freshness, clarity, and remarkable verticality. Aromatically, it evokes citrus fruits, herbs, crisp orchard fruit, and delicate floral notes.
Technical Sheet
Grape varieties: Ribolla Gialla (40%), Friulano (40%), Malvasia Istriana, and Pinot Bianco
Vineyard: Low-altitude vineyards near Cormons, characterized by Ponca soils
Harvest: Hand-picked
Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation | native yeasts | no maceration | concrete tank
Aging: Used oak casks
Filtration: None
SO₂: < 25 mg/L
Alcohol: 12.5% vol.
Closure: Natural cork
Serving temperature: 10–12°C
Optimal drinking window: Now through 2035
Volume and price per liter: 0.75 L (€31.12/L)
All winemakers listed by Vinonudo cultivate their vineyards using compost, organic fertilizers, and natural preparations, while refraining from the use of herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers.
