Tazzelenghe is an ancient indigenous red grape variety from Friuli Venezia Giulia, native to the hills between Buttrio and Cividale del Friuli. Once widely cultivated in the region, it was revived following a period of decline and is now one of the most distinctive wines of the Colli Orientali del Friuli. The name derives from the Friulian term ‘tàce-lenghe’, meaning ‘tongue-cutter’, a reference to the pronounced acidity and marked tannic structure that characterise the young wine.
The vine has medium-sized leaves, generally pentagonal and three-lobed, with a fairly flat surface. The bunch is medium-sized, cylindrical, sometimes with one or two wings, and moderately compact. The berry, medium or medium-large in size, is slightly flattened and spherical in shape, with a firm, pruinose skin of an intense blue-black colour; the flesh is juicy and has a distinct acidic note.
Its cultivation remains concentrated mainly in the hilly areas of Buttrio, Manzano, Rosazzo, Cividale and the neighbouring territories of the Colli Orientali. When vinified as a single-varietal wine, it produces a deep ruby red colour, often enriched with violet hues, with vinous, fruity and spicy aromas, which may be complemented by hints of undergrowth, toasty notes and oak. On the palate, it is dry, fresh, savoury, structured and tannic. Ageing in wood and time help to develop its balance, making it well-suited to long-term ageing in the bottle.
