‘‘Pra-dee-oh’ In 2008 the Cielo family celebrated 100 years of family winemaking. Their jewel Pradio in Grave Del Friuli, however, was only established by brothers Luca and Pierluigi in the 1970’s. Today these immaculate vineyards on gravelly (once riverbed) soils produce the grapes necessary to create wines of superb elegance. Regarding the white wines, Luca stresses, “they are not about power, they are about finesse and elegance – even subtlety”. Flavours are long and complex. Layers reveal themselves progressively and with different foods. The gravelly soils provide the mineral flavours so evident in the white wines, and so perfect to create a very refined Pinot Grigio, complex Sauvignon Blanc and crisp elegant Chardonnay. In special years they produce a ‘super’ white called “Plu’Vis”. 2007 was such a year and the Cielo’s have created a stunner. The region is not new to reds either. The Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet and Merlot have been successfully grown in the region for over a century. So it is no surprise that the Cielos can produce a Cabernet Merlot with the stature of the ‘Rok’ – a wine that measures up supremely against equivalent Bordeaux blends. The ‘Rok’ is the very best red the Cielo’s make.
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Pinot Grigio from the Grave del Friuli – major yeild reduction and meticulous grape selection have created a very classy wine. Several different yeasts have been used, combined with partial malolactic fermentation, and a long resting on noble lees. No oak. Straw yellow. Nose, inviting. Complex, flowers, apple, pear. Taste, fresh, minerally, long lingering. 6-PACK
Bright light golden hue. Elegant, refined bouquet with exotic fruit, spice and dried flower scents. The soft mouthfeel is balanced by lively fresh, mineral notes derived from alluvial soils with 60% stone content. Classy.
Pradio Sauvignon 'Sobaja' 2008 - DOC Friuli Grave
Straw-yellow hue with light greenish highlights. Intense bouquet, clean scents of tomato leaf, light sage that with time evolves to sweeter sensations of white peach. The palate is fresh, herbaceous and slightly citrusy, with mineral falvours derived from the alluvial soils that have 40%-60% stone content.
A very complex Sauvignon Blanc that evolves on the palate.
SOLD OUT Chardonnay 60%, remaining 40% made up of Pinot Grigio, Tocai and Sauvignon. Only made in the best years. This is the very best white wine Pradio make. Bright saturated straw-yellow hue. Delightful sensations of ripe exotic fruits, sweet spices and roasted hazelnuts. Full, mellow mouthfeel with a ripe peach and nutty finish. Seriously complex and long.
Intense, deep, compact cherry red hue. Lovely bouquet with morello and redcurrant notes, black pepper and clove finish. Soft on the palate, yet strong complex character with lingering and enveloping aromatic persistence. Superb Italian "Bordeaux" blend.
