Jelenič – Chardonnay Excellent, 2018

Let’s head today to Dolenjska to taste a gorgeous, full-bodied rendition of Chardonnay, produced by the Jelenič family that fermented spontaneously and matured in barrique barrels.

I’ve been following Jelenič wines for about three years now. My first contact with them was actually the Chardonnay that won in the category of white still wines at the last edition of Slovenia’s wine festival. It was the 2015 edition from the same line. I’ve come to know them a little bit more since then, and I’ve been really impressed with their wines. They also produce one of the most expressive Yellow Plavec, which I used at a workshop and sommelier classes.

Grapes for this Chardonnay come from a vineyard at an altitude of 400 meters above sea level with the soil consisting of marl. After destemming and crushing, the free-run juice was racked in classical barriques, where it fermented spontaneously and matured on fine less for twelve months, also conducting malolactic conversion. Finally, it was bottled and laid to rest in the cellar for a long time before coming to the market.

This results in a Chardonnay of dense texture with golden-yellow colour where we observe slowly slipping tears on the glass walls.

Aromas are intense and fine. First, we notice butterines and notes of nuts, followed by ripe yellow apple, peach, gooseberry, almond blossom, lemon, honey, toffee, cinnamon, cloves and even coffee.

A dry wine with pronounced softness, at the same time refreshing and mineral salty. The taste evokes flavours of boiled apple, gooseberry, marzipan, butter, roasted hazelnuts and caramel, in addition to sweet spices—a full-bodied wine of lasting persistency and accentuated elegance that will please lovers of Burgundy.

A bottle will cost you approximately 13 Eur, and you can order it by calling +386 41 568 441, sending an email to jelenic@zaman.si or at Vina Posavja – Sava Valley Wines.