Bordon – Refošk, 2016

Ah, tonight we’re moving to our coast. We’re at the Bordon family, and we’ll be tasting Slovene Istria’s black king, refošk! I’m excited, as I follow them for a couple of years now and the progress they made, especially in the last couple of years, is astonishing!

Grapes for this wine are coming from a 20-year old, organically farmed, low-yielding vineyard. The soil is a mixture of marl and flysch, and they are facing the sea. A real picturesque treat at an altitude of 80 – 90 meters above sea level—the plot benefits of a great microclimate with a constant breeze, which is beneficial for disease prevention.

Grapes are handpicked at full ripeness, with some already starting to dry. After destemming and crushing they undergo a 14-day maceration at controlled temperatures conducting alcoholic fermentation followed by spontaneous malolactic fermentation. The wine then matures for 24 months in used barrique barrels and another year in a large 2.300-litre oak barrel. It is finally bottled without filtration.

This results in refošk of a deep ruby red colour, with a purple tinge.

Aromas evoke overripe red fruit, dried cranberries, chokeberry, red pepper, dried red flower petals, tobacco, cloves, leather, chocolate, and roasted nuts.

The taste is intense, noticeably soft and warm. Freshness is in the foreground with pronounced tannins that dry our mouths. The wine has an elegant and intense taste of medium to lasting persistency and a vigorous body.

A refošk that fully reflects the sun gazed hills over the Adriatic sea. It has warmness but also the structure and elegance. Its freshness nicely balances the sweet palate, which results in a wine that will please a broad audience. Ideally over a good plate of meat of “podpeka”.

If you’re familiar with the crispiness of refošk, well this might surprise you a bit. I pretty much suggest you see for yourselves.