Emeran Reya – Cabernet franc, 2015

There is a certain variety that adapted pretty well to pedo-climate specifics of Brda. Actually, let’s put it this way, Brda have the ability to grasp certain international varieties and turn them into an existential part of their DNA. Such is the case with Cabernet Franc, and today we have a closer look at the one of Emeran Reya.

Edvard is a modest winemaker offering a relaxed and sincere approach to visitors, but crafting some serious wines in both sparkling and firm, macerated styles.

Vivid are memories of our last visit. We’re where his wines mature in barrels and immediately we have a look at the wines inside, so patiently evolving, waiting to be bottled and greet the glasses of many. I’m immediately surprised by what’s in store for us.

Let’s have a closer look at the Cabernet Franc of the vintage 2015. It’s the last vintage not to feature an organic certificate, even though vineyards were farmed this way already then. Grapes for this wine are coming from two grassy vineyards of 20 and 30 years of age. They are planted on Brda’s Opoka, at an altitude of 100 meters. Exposure north-west.

Harvest is done exclusively by hand. Grapes get destemmed and crushed, followed by a month-long maceration at uncontrolled temperatures. Fermentation is spontaneous with grapes own yeast, and such is the case with malolactic fermentation. It matures in used barrique barrels composed by 50 % Slovenian, 25 % French and 25 % American oak. It then rests for a further year in an inox vat after the final assemblage only to be bottled without filtration and wait for a further year in the cellar.

This results in a deep, ruby red coloured wine of dense texture staining the glass.

Its bouquet is intense and expresses ripe black currants, blackberries, cherries, violet petals, black pepper, fern, eucalyptus, chocolate, carob, cinnamon, roasted almonds, leather and pencil graphite.

The taste is an alluring journey of flavours. It intricates our palate with its softness and warmness, counterbalanced by its crisp freshness and velvety tannins, underpinned by mineral tastiness.

This is an intense, full-bodied wine with a pronounced elegance and lasting persistency. A harmonious exemplar of this characterful variety that will please many.

I started by saying how certain regions have the ability to assimilate a certain variety, characterizing it with its DNA, which is similar to what Tuscany has. And honestly, certainly not boldly, Brda can be rightfully looked at as Slovenia’s Tuscany and wines like this are the testimony!