The 2009 Flors di Uis, a blend of Malvasia Istriana, Friulano and Riesling Renano, remains the flagship wine at Vie di Romans. Impeccably layered and nuanced, the 2009 impresses for its balance and overall sense of harmony. Jasmine, passion fruit and sweet spices come to life in the glass, followed by expressive floral notes that become more pronounced as the wine continues to open up. The warmth of the vintage has given the 2009 a bit more depth than is typical. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016. Proprietor Gianfranco Gallo has a preference for rich, textured wines. In 2009, a year that saw a long heat wave at the end of August, many of his wines are even bigger than they usually are. The best selections, though, possess terrific overall balance. Vie di Romans has a fabulous website (www.viediromans.it) full of technical information on recent vintages and the estate’s wines, among other topics. Readers should be aware that Vie di Romans is owned by members of my wife's extended family. I have always viewed education as an important component of wine criticism. An article on Friuli without these wines would have been incomplete and ultimately the consumer would have been poorer for their exclusion. For those reasons I have chosen to include the wines in this report. Neither my wife nor I have any financial or other interest, direct or indirect, in this property. Importer: Vias Imports, New York, NY; tel. (212) 629-0200

Flors di Uis is a gorgeous white blend of Malvasia Istriana, Friulano and Riesling Renano that opens with a complex bouquet of yellow flower, stone fruit and spice. The mouthfeel is generous and thick with long-lasting floral nuances spread over the finish. ——M.L.(3/1/2012)—— 92