In the glass

Full-bodiedHigh tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: dark plum, black cherry, leather, tobacco

Palate: black cherry, dark plum, leather, long savoury close

Native Friulian Pignolo from cult Bressan at Farra d'Isonzo. Pignolo was nearly extinct before Carlo Bressan and Alessandro Dorigo led the revival; the variety is among Italy's most tannic native reds.

What it pairs with

  • Roast venison
    Game richness and Pignolo's structured tannins share long savoury depth.
  • Aged Friulian Asino cheese
    Pungent aged cheese matches Pignolo's tannic grip.
  • Brasato al Pignolo
    Slow-braised beef in the wine itself is a Friulian classic.
  • Wild boar with juniper
    Gamey boar and savoury Pignolo share rustic depth.

History

Native Friulian Pignolo from Bressan. The grape was rediscovered in the 1970s in old vineyards around Buttrio and revived in the 1980s and 1990s; Bressan's Pignol is one of the variety's reference bottlings.

  1. 1995 — First Bressan Pignol Pignolo release

Facts

Producer
Bressan Mastri Vinai
Grapes
Pignolo (100%)
Classification
Venezia Giulia IGT
Oak
Fermentation in open vats, elevage in large Slavonian oak botti for around 60 months, then bottle age
ABV
14.5%
Price
EUR 75 to 140 at retail
Drinking window
10-30 from vintage
First vintage
1995
Biodynamic
Biodynamic Practicing
Organic
ORGANIC CERTIFIED

Frequently asked about Bressan Pignol Pignolo

What does Bressan Pignol taste like?

Dark plum, black cherry, leather and tobacco on the nose; black cherry, dark plum, leather and a long savoury close on the palate. Full-bodied with high tannins and high acidity.

When should I drink Bressan Pignol?

Drink 10 to 30 years from vintage. Pignolo's high tannins demand a decade in the cellar to integrate, and the wine repays cellaring.

What is Pignolo?

Pignolo is a native Friulian red grape that was nearly extinct before its 1970s rediscovery in old vineyards. It is among Italy's most tannic native reds and demands long cellar ageing.

What food pairs with Bressan Pignol?

Roast venison is the canonical pairing. Aged Friulian Asino cheese, brasato al Pignolo, and wild boar with juniper are equally strong.

Tags

← Back to wines in Friuli-Venezia Giulia