2022 Radikon Rosso Sasa (RS)

The late Stanislao (Stanko) Radikon’s bold decision in the 1990s to embrace extended skin contact and natural winemaking, alongside his neighbour Josko Gravner, played a pivotal role in the global rise of amber/orange wines. Over the course of 36+ vintages Stanko, and now his son Sasa, have remained uncompromising in their pursuit of wines that are pure expressions of their Friulian terroir, rejecting chemical additives, temperature control, and sulphur. Rooted in the traditions of Stanko’s grandfather, the Radikon estate in Oslavia focuses on Ribolla Gialla, with vineyards planted on steep clay and shale slopes, meticulously farmed by hand. Since 1995, Stanko progressively returned to historical methods, extending maceration from 7 days to 3 months and eliminating sulphur entirely by 2002, crafting age-worthy wines that are, in Stanko's words, "totally genuine." While the core of the estate was formed around plantings of Ribolla Gialla, Stanko’s parents also added small parcels of Merlot, Tocai Friulano and Pinot Grigio.

RS is a red wine blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Pignolo.

Other Reviews....
The 2022 Rosso RS lifts from the glass with a vivid blend of crushed black cherries and blackberries complicated by cedar shavings and sage. This is energetic and racy in style, with depths of tart wild berry fruits energized by a balanced dose of volatile acidity. Violet inner florals and traces of lavender form toward the close. It finishes dramatically long yet wickedly fresh, leaving a coating of grippy tannins as licorice and currant nuances slowly fade. This is almost too easy to like yet remarkably balanced as well. The RS22 (from the 2022 vintage) is a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Pignolo. Drink 2024-2031.
93 points
Eric Guido - Vinous