It’s been a while after the festival and here I am, with a brief report and the first part of mine impressions…

As you noticed in my previous post, the festival was divided into 2 venues. The venue at hotel Union was mainly reserved for the promotion of winemakers that are part of the Family estate association, there was also some room for wines of foreign countries and other major resellers presenting their catalog range. Unfortunately I couldn’t make it to the venue at hotel Slon, so I can’t say much about that.

On the 2^nd day I took an hour of time to visit the stands. Matjaž, winemaker MonteMoro replaced me for that time, but unfortunately it happened to be when it was most crowded. None the less I still managed to do a quick sip & spit tour. Even though, due to the lack of time I didn’t manage to stop at every stand so, here is just a few of the impressions… I must also apologize to readers and winemakers for the lack of descriptions but I’m sure I”ll be writing in details about some of these wines shortly.

I started tasting wine from wine region Podravje. The region is known for its white varieties, although red varieties are also becoming notable. None the less the world’s oldest vine comes from this district. You’ll find dry as well as medium dry wines, that have a distinct freshness ideal for ageing. Non the less the region is known for its Predicats.

Miro wines

Miro was presenting his Furmint 2008, Blue frankinja 2008, XL 2007 and Fuga mundi 2006. Miro wines are divided into two segments; if you’re prefer fresh wines, with distinct varietal notes then look for his orange marked screwcapped bottles. For lovers of oak barrells grown wine the color to watch is black. Of course a special packaging is reserved for his Botrytis marked Fuga mundi.

Verus vineyards

You probably read Jancis Robinsons impressions about their Furmint 2007. This time visitors had the chance to try Chardonnay 2008, Welsch Riesling 2008, Sauvignon 2008 and Pinot Gris 2008. Verus wines have distinct varietal aromas, are well structured and quite ballanced. I got impressed by their Chardonnay, wich was partialy aged in oak barells.

Kupljen wine

The atmosphere at Kupljen wines was really happy, unfortunatelly due to lack of time I stoped only to do a quick sip & spit and to take some pictures. The wines dislayed were Welsch Riesling 2008, Furmint 2008, Sirius 2008 and Pinot noir Selection 2007.

Gaube wine

I already mentioned Gaube wines on my blog. This time I could try his Pinot gris 2008, Kerner 2008, Chardonnay 2008 and Welschriesling 2008.

Steyer wines

Quick stop to try their 8 cuvee 2008, Steyer Mark cuvee 2007, Gewurtztraminer 2008 and Gewurtztraminer extreme 2007.

Joannes wines

I interrupted the chat between winemaker mr. Protner and Slovenian Collio’s winemaker mr. Sirk to try his Sauvignon 2008, Welschriesling 2007, Welschriesling 2006 and Pinot gris – rose 2008. I must say I got impressed by his Welschriesling 2006 and Pinot gris – rose.

Graben wines

Unfortunately I didn’t take any pictures at Graben wines, the only representatives of the wine region Posavje. They were presenting Pinot gris 2008, Traminer 1998, Gamay 2003 and Blue frankinja 2004. I found the last two wines quite interesting.

This is it for now, stay tuned for more and cheers!

Here I am, back with a new post. Today I had the pleasure to taste some young wine. The invite came from Jure, a colleague from the sommelier course, who is working at the House of good wine – Koželj. Of course I couldn’t miss the chance, so there I was; 5 PM, a cold, rainy evening, with a lovely and warm atmosphere in the house…

You could say the tasting was divided in two parts. On the first floor it was all about wine region Podravje. There were five winemakers, each presenting his youngsters. There they were Johannes presenting Zeleni silvanec (slovene for Grüner Silvaner), Non + Ultra – Rose and Non + Ultra – Red; Gaube presenting his Prvenec; Falot with his young Muscat; Valdhuber and his Mladič; and Steyer with his Ranina.

On the other floor the atmosphere was red, red for the younglings from Primorska. There were Erzetič’s – Mladivo, Ščurek‘s – Medana novo and Kristančič‘s – Medana novo.

Johannes – Zeleni silvanec was my first try. The color is straw yellowish with a green shade. The nose is rather intense of fresh fruit and white flowers and is rather reach. The wine is dry, of a rather freshness and of a notable minerality on the palate. It is rather balanced with a tendency to the harder side.

I continued with Gaube – Prvenec. The wine is a kind of Muscat Ottonel (1/3) and Rizvanec (2/3). It is of a straw yellowish color with a green shade. The nose is rather intense, varietal and of fresh fruit (banana, vine peach). On the palate is rather balanced, but you sense it needs time to develop. Lets not forget we’re talking about young wine .

Falot – young Muscat was my next try. Straw yellowish color with green shades. The nose is rather intense, nuances of fresh fruit but less varietal. It is medium dry, with a rounder palate. The winemaker is brother of Valdhuber, which wine I tried next. Falot is known for its Muscat, but now they are expending their range to other varieties.

Valdhuber – Mladič is a kind of Kerner, Rizvanec and Yellow Muscat. It is of a straw yellowish color with green shades. The nose is rather refined, varietal and of fresh fruit (vine peach, banana) and is rather reach. It is medium dry, of a noticeable freshness and minerality, rather balanced with tendencies to the harder side.

Steyer – Ranina was perhaps the most intriguing (in a positive way) wine i tried today, it opened a question after another, but I’ll leave them opened for now. Ranina is a variety of vine. The wine is of a straw yellowish color. You notice fresh fruit and white flowers in the aroma. The wine is dry with a noticeable minerality and freshness.

After tasting all the white wine I returned to Joannes to try its Non + Ultra Rose. The wine is a kind of Pinot noir and Žametna črnina. It is of a lighter pink color. On the nose you can notice fresh fruit. It is dry, with a noticeable freshness and minerality. It is rather balanced with tendencies to the harder side.

Non + Ultra Red was the last wine of Podravje’s winemakers. It is a kind of Pinot Noir and Gamay.  It is of a purple red color. On the nose it has nuances of fresh forest fruit (blackberry, currants). It is dry on the palate, mineral and of a rather freshness.

Time to change the floor and try the red wines from wine region Primorska.

Erzetič – Mladivo was my first try. The wine is of a purple red color. On the nose it is quite intense, with nuances of forest undergrowth, currants… It is dry, of a moderate freshness and noticeable minerality. It is between full to thin bodied. You sense the wine is young and has yet to calm and balance, on the palate is like a wild horse pounding to the harder side.

Ščurek – Medana novo, a ruby color with garnet nuances. The nose is rather reach, intense to quite intense with aromas of blackberries, cherry, black currants, forest undergrowth… On the palate is dry, quite soft, of a noticeable freshness and tannins, quite balanced.

Kristančič – Medana novo was the last wine of the evening. It is of a ruby color with garnet nuances. Quite rich on the nose, with aromas of forest undergrowth, currants, cherry, blueberries… A dry wine on the palate, quite soft, of noticeable freshness, tannins and minerals. Quite balanced with tendencies to the harder side.

Today’s tasting was an interesting introspective to what we can expect out of the year 2009. I’m sure we’re heading into a wild and interesting season, so stay tuned for more.

Cheers!