Sun Goddess by Mary J Blige Pinot Grigio Ramato 2020
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The bouquet is intense and complex, with hints of fruits (peach, melon and berries). On the palate it is round, with a pleasant acidity, soft tannins and a finish rich in mineral sensations. With origins in Italy’s northeastern province of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Ramato (Italian for “auburn” or “copper”) wines are produced by macerating Pinot Grigio grape must with its skins. The skins’ pink hue gives the wines color from a semi-pale pink to dark orange, depending on maceration time.
Other Vintages
2019-
Wong
Wilfred -
Suckling
James
Sun Goddess is produced with love and passion from the sun-kissed vineyards owned by the Fantinel family. Mary J. Blige and Fantinel have partnered to create a stunning lineup of Sun Goddess Wines. This partnership combines beautiful wines from Friuli Venezia Giulia with the powerhouse MJB to bring an amazing brand to life. Mary J. has eight multi-platinum albums, nine Grammy Awards, two Academy Award nominations, and many more accolades. Her love of wine was brought to life when she met Marco Fantinel, and they worked closely together to create these exceptional wines from the Northeast of Italy.
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.
The source of some of Italy’s best and most distinctive white wines, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is where Italian, Germanic and Slavic cultures converge. The styles of wines produced in this region of Italy's far north-east reflect this merging of cultures. Often shortened to just “Friuli,” the area is divided into many distinct subzones, including Friuli Grave, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Collio Goriziano and Carso. The flat valley of Friuli Grave is responsible for a large proportion of the region’s wine production, particularly the approachable Pinot grigio and the popular Prosecco. The best vineyard locations are often on hillsides, as in Colli Orientali del Friuli or Collio. In general, Friuli boasts an ideal climate for viticulture, with warm sunny days and chilly nights, which allow grapes to ripen slowly and evenly.
In Colli Orientali, the specialty is crisp, flavorful white wine made from indigenous varieities like Friulano (formerly known as Tocai Friulano), Ribolla gialla and Malvasia Istriana.
Red wines, though far less common here, can be quite good, especially when made from the deeply colored, rustic Refosco variety. In Collio Goriziano, which abutts Slovenia, many of the same varieties are planted. International varieties like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc are also common, but they tend to be Loire-like in style with herbaceous character and mellow tannins. Carso’s star grape is the red Teranno, notable for being rich in iron content and historically consumed for health purposes. It has an earthy, meaty profile and is often confused with the distinct variety Refosco.