I left you with the first part of the Slovenian Wine Festival impressions, where I presented winemakers and wines from wine region Podravje and Posavje. I left a wine region out of the report for a reason…

Wine region Primorska was represented by the biggest number of winemakers. The region has almost 7.000 ha of wineyards, which is 40% of all Slovenia’s winemaking surfafce. The region is divided into 4 wine districts; Slovenska Istra and Kras (Karst) – both districts have over 50% of red varieties (I’m sure you’ve heard of Kraški Teran), Goriška Brda or Slovenian Collio and Vipavska valley where Slovenias only 2 autochthonous varieties Zelen and Pinela are grown.

Selected wines Bordon

Mojca Bordon was my neighbor and a lovely company at the festival. It is always nice to taste their medium dry E.Vin Rose 2008, while this time visitors could also taste Malvazija 2008, Refošk 2008 and E.Vin Rose – straw wine 2005 with a nice Botritys touch on the aroma.

MonteMoro

Working with Matjaž is always a pleasure, so when he called I didn’t hesitate to accept the invitation. Matjaž was presenting his Malvazija 2008, Malvazija aMorus 2007, Chardonnay 2008, Refošk 2008 and Refošk aMorus 2007. MonteMoro divides its range into 2 segments; a fresh traditionally produced line is presented by Malvazija 2008, Chardonnay 2008 and Refošk 2008, while the aMorus line means that wine is marked by a longer maceration and then grown for 12 months in 225 and 400 liter oak barrels, when bottled it rests for 3 months before entering the market. Visitors liked Malvazija 2008, Malvazija aMorus 2007, Refošk aMorus 2007 and Chardonnay 2008. I was impressed with the Chardonnay 2008, the wine is made from younger vines, with a load not bigger than 0,5 kg per vine. The result is a fresh, medium dry, well structured and quite balanced wine.

Rojac wine

Uh, the chats I had with Sara, Primož and Uroš. Can’t wait to meet the guys again and of course taste their Stari d’or red 2005. The wine is an impressive kind of Merlot, Cabernet sauvignon, Syrah and Refošk, making it a full bodied and well structured wine, with intense aromas of mature red fruit but you can also sense jam nuances, and spices, namely black pepper. Their Renero 2005 presents also a huge potential and it is part of an experiment of taking Refošk to the next level – as Primož presented it. Not to mention ther Malvazija 2008, Stari d’or white 2006 and Aurelia would also be an injustice.

Čotar wines

Starting the representatives of Krast with Vasja Čotar. Their wines, white and red, are made after a longer maceration process and then aged in oak barrels. This time the wines presented were Vitovska 2006, Malvazija 2005, Teran 2007 and Merlot 2003. Unfortunately at that time I only managed to try their sparkling Rdeče, made from Karst grown Refosco grapes.

Štemberger wines

Štemberger winemakers come from Karst. Their vineyards; placed on the border between the Karst region and Vipavska valley, present a powerful combination and at Štemberger are trying to take the advantages from both terroirs. I’m sure I’ll have the chance to write more about them on my blog. The wines presented were Zelen 2008, Chardonnay 2005, Cabernet sauvignon 2007 and Merlot 2007.

Guerila wines

The autochthonous Zelen 2008 and Pinela 2008, Rose 2007, Roma 2006, Rika 2008 and Castra Rose all well structured wines each with a different story and of course the charisma…

Sončni škol wines

I met with wines of Sončni škol for the firs time and got intrigued. Definitely can’t wait to try them again. The wines presented were Klarnica 2007, Pinela 2006, Pinot noir 2007, Rebula 2006 and a rose made entirely of Cabernet sauvignon.

Mansus Makovec wines

The wines presented were Klarnica 2008, Sauvignonasse 2008, Barbera rose 2008, Merlot 2007, Klarnica 2007. Watch out for their Klarnica 2007, it impressed me.

Čarga 1767 – Viticulture and winemaking

I’m writing this still under the influence of the wonderful time, spent at their mansion past Saturday, but I’ll leave this to another post. The wines presented were Donna Regina sparkling wine, Rebula 2008, Sauvignon 2008, Pinot noir 2005, Cabernet franc selection 2006 and his young wine Vinovo. All this respectfully presented by mr. Erzetič.

Unfortunately the mass at other winemakers from Slovenian Collio was unbearable, I could merely take some pictures at some stands, but couldn’t take any notes.

I then went on to try wines of Prinčič with an outstanding Mulit white 2006 (the wine is a kind with Viognier, a variety they are introducing in Slovenia), Blažič with Blaž white 2006, Peršolja wines Rebula 2008, Edi Simčič with an intriguing Malvazija 2007 with aromas of conifer trees, Valter Sirk‘s Chardonnay 2007 and Ščurek‘s Chardonnay 2008.

At the end of the festival I managed to try Šumenjak‘s wines. The wines presented were Yellow muscat 2008, Welsch Riesling 2008, Pinot noir 2007 and Sauvignon 2008. Šumenjak wines come from the wine region Podravje.

Here’s also some pictures of the venue at hotel Union:

I definitely got a lot of impressions and can surely say the festival presented a nice introspective into Slovenian wine – culture. If you are a foreign visitor and wine enthusiast you definitely need to come and visit the festival next year.

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!