モードリ ラディコン｜フリウリの自然派が生んだ希少ピノ ネロに注目

Modri Radikon is a rare and distinctive red wine produced by the acclaimed natural winemaker Radikon, based in the village of Oslavje in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of northeastern Italy, near the Slovenian border. The name Modri comes from the Slovenian word for Pinot Nero, also known internationally as Pinot Noir. This particular wine represents a deeply personal project for the late Stanko Radikon, who cultivated Pinot Nero in vineyards he owned on the Slovenian side of the border for many years before deciding to bottle it as a standalone cuvée.

For a long time, the Pinot Nero grapes harvested from these vineyards were blended with Merlot or co-fermented because the yields were too low to fill even a single barrel, and Stanko did not feel the wine had sufficient tension or quality to merit its own label. Around the year 2000, however, he began experimenting with vinifying the Pinot Nero separately and aging it in barrels. During this experimental period, only friends and visitors to the winery had the chance to taste the wine directly from barrel. It was never bottled or labeled for commercial release during those early years.

The first vintage to be officially bottled was 2003, but it took until 2016 for the wine to reach the Japanese market through the dedicated efforts of the importer Vinaiota, led by the passionate Hisato Ota. Ota himself has described Modri as a wine whose release he anticipated more than anyone else, underscoring the deep personal connection between the importer and this particular cuvée. The 2015 vintage reviewed here is part of this ongoing legacy of patience and dedication.

Radikon is widely regarded as one of the pioneering producers of natural wine in Italy and indeed in the world. The winery was originally founded by Stanko Radikon’s grandfather, who worked the family land around Oslavje. In 1980, Stanko took over operations and made the pivotal decision to stop selling wine in bulk and begin bottling under the family name. This marked the beginning of Radikon’s evolution into a quality-focused estate that would come to influence an entire generation of natural winemakers.

The philosophy at Radikon centers on minimal intervention in both the vineyard and the cellar. The wines are produced without the addition of sulfites or other chemical additives, resulting in what is categorized as natural wine or additive-free wine. This approach means that each bottle may display characteristics not commonly found in conventional wines, such as unusual color, sediment, and distinctive aromatic and flavor profiles. Even bottle variation is considered part of the wine’s identity and character rather than a flaw.

The terroir of the Oslavje area and the surrounding border zone between Italy and Slovenia plays a crucial role in shaping the character of the wine. The region benefits from a unique microclimate where warm air from the Adriatic Sea meets cooler alpine influences, creating conditions that can coax complexity and nuance from grape varieties like Pinot Nero. The soils in this area typically include limestone and marl, which contribute mineral qualities to the wines. Pinot Nero is a grape variety known globally for producing elegant, aromatic red wines with supple tannins and bright acidity, and in this particular terroir, it takes on a distinctive local character.

Modri 2015 is bottled in the characteristic Radikon format of 1000 milliliters rather than the standard 750-milliliter bottle. This larger format is a hallmark of the Radikon style and offers practical benefits for natural wine enthusiasts who enjoy observing how a wine evolves over several days after opening. The wine is classified as IGT Friuli Venezia Giulia, a designation that allows the winemaker greater freedom in production methods compared to more restrictive DOC or DOCG classifications.

In terms of food pairing, Pinot Nero-based wines from natural producers like Radikon tend to show great versatility at the table. Recommended pairings include roasted poultry and duck, mushroom risotto or pasta dishes, aged cheeses from the Friuli region such as Montasio or Taleggio, and even delicately seasoned Japanese cuisine like nimono or yakitori with salt. The wine’s expected combination of fruit purity, tannic suppleness, and the complex secondary characteristics imparted by long barrel aging and natural winemaking techniques make it a compelling companion for a wide range of dishes.

The wine is available for purchase in Japan through the Toscany Italian Wine Specialty Shop on the Rakuten marketplace at a price of 23,760 yen including tax with free standard shipping. Due to the wine’s sensitivity to temperature changes, the retailer strongly recommends selecting the cool delivery option during warmer months. Inventory is shared across multiple sales platforms, so availability may fluctuate.

For wine enthusiasts interested in exploring Italian natural wines, Friuli Venezia Giulia’s distinctive winemaking tradition, or the expressive potential of Pinot Nero beyond its more famous expressions in Burgundy and other regions, Modri Radikon represents a thoughtful and compelling choice. It is a wine born of patience, conviction, and a deep respect for the land, carrying with it the story of a family winery that chose to wait until the time was right before sharing one of its most personal creations with the world.