1998 Radikon Ribolla Gialla

Community Tasting Notes (4) Avg Score: 90.5 points

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  11/10/2016 - forceberry wrote: 99 Points

  Deep and quite concentrated coppery reddish-orange color with luminous golden-yellow rim. The wine was carefully decanted, which is why it is so beautifully clear and not noticeably cloudy - or even hazy. The rich, unctuous nose is incredibly big and powerful with sweet-toned aromas of caramel, orange marmalade, raspberry jam, some wizened dark fruits, a little bit of earthy smoke, light bruised apple tones, a hint of balsamico and a lifted touch of volatile nail polish character. The nose seems to evolve constantly, revealing new aromas by every sniff. The wine is dry, intense and extremely complex on the palate with more medium than full body, which contrasts the bold, sweet-toned nose. There are powerful, layered flavors of stony minerality, caramel, fragrant exotic spices, some tart Granny Smith apple, a little bit of stewed rose hips, light smoky tones, a hint of ripe raspberry and a touch of wild, funky character that is tending towards volatile, balsamic sweetness. The wine is incredibly focused and structured, all thanks to its bright, high acidity. The light tannins seem fully resolved, lending only a little touch to the texture. The finish is rich, quite acid-driven and ridiculously complex with persistent flavors of stewed rose hips, some raspberry jam, a little bit of rich exotic spices, light minty herbal tones, a wild hint of balsamic lift and a touch of oxidative caramel.
  
  A real stunner of a wine. Not only is this the most complex and complete orange wines / amber wines / skin-contact whites I've ever tasted, this is a truly unique vinous experience on its own. There is a certain wild, natural undertone to the wine - mainly elevated levels of VA - but otherwise the wine is incredibly polished, pure and so crystalline. There's not a blemish to be found. Not only is one sip here an adventure, but it seems that the second sip is wholly different from the first one - this wine is alive and it changed through the course of the bottle. Most likely the wine is at its peak and although it might keep for some time more, it probably won't develop from here. Consider yourself lucky, if you manage to taste this wine at its apogee. At ~50€, the value here is extraordinary.

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  1/19/2016 - Soteriologist wrote: 90 Points

  [Tasted at Vinum Merum, Thalkirchen, München]:
  
  My first taste of an orange wine. Unfiltered, not really orange, towards copper actually. The bottle had been open for several weeks (more than 2 !) when I tried it and still going strong. First taste not that impressive, has a touch of apple vinegar, some plum and slightly nutty, but the real plus comes with the aftertaste, in that regard similar to a dry sherry. Interesting to say the least !

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  8/22/2010 - lollo wrote: 91 Points

  the colour is opaque due to is organic nature the wine is not filtered.Make sure you decant for a few hours before you drink it should be almost room temperature.The nose and first taste marsala but then all his dryiness will come up.Aplle and dry fruit is what I have experience in this great wine.Definetely to try a different wine from the rest, 2002 has been a great year too.
  
  Lollo

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  6/17/2007 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 82 Points

  The color of apple juice, and it tastes like apple juice too after a brief window when it seemed more on the youthful grapefruity side. It smells slightly of nuts but is otherwise fresh and fruity and not evidencing much of its oxidative elevage.

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