Lemon peel, almond skin, underripe Asian pear. White melon, parsley leaf, tart grapefruit pith. A trickle of lime zest, peach pit, and tapioca effortlessly converges with lemongrass, peanut shell, and broken rock in a delightfully fresh, classic, and straightforward display. Intriguing notes of aged cheese, fresh basil, and bitter herbs emerge to reveal subtle natural and leesy charm complicated by a pinch of delicate spice highlighted by white pepper and shaved ginger. Crystalline impressions of river stones and gravely minerals impart a lasting earthy sensation while flecks of Brazil nut carry an interesting phenolic twist. Relatively shy and neutral on the nose yet delectably stoney on the palate; exhibiting terrific balance and expression of terroir along with a perfect predisposition for pairing with food. Barely medium in body and supported by nicely elevated acidity. This 2017 "Mon Blanc" by Castello di Buttrio is a tremendously clean, mineral, and satisfying white from Friuli-Venezia Guilia.

Located in the north-eastern corner of Italy squarely between the Julian Alps and the Adriatic Sea, Friuli-Venezia Guilia is a unique Italian wine region in that it is more famous for its white wines than its reds. This bottling, crafted by Castello di Buttrio using a blend of Tocai Friulano/Ribolla Gialla/Malvasia Istriana grown on their estate in Friuli Colli Orientali, showcases why the white wines of this area have become become so highly regarded. While not particularly aromatic or expressive this wine contains terrific minerality, charming leesy complexity, and pleasant phenolic bitterness that enhance its backbone of neutral white fruit. It is exceptionally food friendly and enjoyable now, yet this would be an interesting candidate to follow as it ages for another 5-10 years in the cellar. Very nice.