2023 Billy Button ‘The Feisty’ Friulano

Friulano originates from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of NorthEast Italy. (It also goes by the names of Sauvignon Vert and Sauvignonasse.) Jo’s interest in this white variety began in 2013 when she experienced it for the first time while working at Feathertop. She was intrigued by the intensity of flavour combined with a fantastic texture, and she knew there and then that she wanted to play with the variety even more.

Say 'free-ew-lah-no'

Production Notes

Handpicked, the fruit was cooled right down before processing.  It was whole bunch pressed to stainless steel and settled overnight before racking.  Inoculated with selected yeast and fermented cool and slow.  Sulphured on completion of ferment, the wine was held on yeast lees and given the occasional stir to build texture.  Filtered and bottled in October 2023.

Sourced from Rachael Croucher's Whitlands vineyard, this wine is a fragrant expression of Friulano, it's vibrant and textured. The variety originates from the Friuli region of North East Italy and has an intensity of flavour that really packs a punch.

Tasting notes

Glenn and I have a love/hate relationship with this variety. It can be very difficult to get it right, but when you do the result is amazing. And after 10 years of making this wine, we think we are on the right path, with the 2023 being the best release yet (until we release the sensational 2024 that is). Lovely aromatics and favours of “green fruit salad”.

Technical details

Vineyard:             Whitlands Plateau Vineyard

Region:                King Valley

Alcohol:               12%

Winemaker:        Glenn James & Jo Marsh

Reviews

"Growing interest in the friulano grape variety is warranted. Here, we see super cool-climate Whitlands fruit combined with partial fermentation in seasoned oak to produce a richly textured, gently savoury wine that lingers on the tongue. It's a glorious mix of poached quince, grapefruit, preserved lemon, yellow pear and sweet white florals. An almond, ginger biscuit quality is a feature. The wine is smoothly rounded and rolls ever so nicely along." Awarded 94 points, Halliday Wine Companion, Jeni Port - Published 20 March 2025