Gaube, Kaspar Chardonnay, 2019

It is time we visit a winemaking family known for their hospitality, the heartwarming welcomes and most of all, wines. We’re stopping at Gaube in the far Northeast of Slovenia, and we’ll be having a closer look at their Kaspar Chardonnay, produced sur-lie in stainless vats.

The Gaube family is coming from Svećina. Their estate is just above the famed heart-shaped road that you can see in tourist offices and depliants. They cultivate approximately 9 hectares of vineyards and are mostly known for white wines with the expressed varietal primary characteristics.

Their winemaking tradition dates back to the sole creator of the estate Kaspar Gaube, who built a cottage atop the vineyard in 1895. First confirmations came in 1901 when he received awards for his wines and fruit. And this is the connection with today’s wine. Chardonnay Kaspar represents a homage to the tradition with a selected production of wine that sees a rigorous grape selection from vines older than 20 years and are planted at altitudes of 360 meters above sea level. The juice is racked into stainless vats on fine lees where it ferments and matures for ten years before being bottled with filtration.

This results in a crystal clear Chardonnay of strawy yellow colour with a slightly golden hue and dense texture.

Its bouquet is alluring. We perceive yellow apple, lemon peel, yellow grapefruit, almond blossom and also honey.

The mouthfeel is oily and is refreshing our mouth, leaving a mineral and a slightly spicy finish. A full-bodied, elegant wine of lasting persistency.

A wine that expresses the fitness of chardonnay and the potential it can give when maturing sur-lie. A bottle will cost you approximately 13 Eur, and you can order it on their website, Wino.si, Stara trta and Fine Slvoenian Wine.