Albiana – Chardonnay Alto, 2018

Let’s return to the Žaren family to have a look at something special, a new style of their Chardonnay which I’ve been fortunate by being granted an exclusive preview into.

This is a wine that stylistically deviates from what we’ve been usually spoiled with at Albiana but still follows their precision and is upgraded by a generous creaminess and roundness.

This Chardonnay was produced following Burgundian methods, so spontaneous fermentation in oak barrels, ageing on lies with malolactic conversion. To be precise, the juice was left on lees for one year, it was decanted afterwards, and went to mature in oak for another year. It was then bottled without filtration, and currently, it still waits patiently for the owner’s generosity to finally step into the market.

Chardonnay Alto displays a crystal clear, golden yellow colour with pronounced viscosity.

Its bouquet is pronounced and fine. Sophisticated aromas evoke ripe mango, apricot, pollen, honey wax, herbal notes, as well as yellow petals, chamomile, butter, almond and chestnut flour.

A wine of softness and well-integrated alcohols with crisp freshness and minerality that is well balanced into the structure. A refined, full-bodied wine with an intense taste that delivers sensations gradually. Its aftertaste is lasting and with noble elegance.

This wine will please lovers of Burgundian style and shows the potential for long ageing in the cellar. It impresses with its purity but also the gentle touch of secondary aromas. A bottle will be priced at approximately 20 Eur, and you should contact the winemaker to see when it will be available.