Photo: Mihaela Majerhold – Ostrovršnik
It’s time we take a look at one of the best expressions of Rebula or Ribolla gialla you can get. Today we’re moving to Brda, at the cooperative cellar Klet Brda to taste their “fresh”, recently released Rebula – Quercus.
And let me start straight by quoting Darinko Ribolica, the legendary oenologist of the cellar: “2020 was the best vintage for Rebula I have seen in my whole history as an oenologist here!”.
Let’s spend a few lines to present the Quercus line, which celebrated its 20th birthday last year. Even though Quercus in Latin means oak, you won’t find any in this wine, as oak trees are only natural to Brda. To testify this are numerous names of villages, which derived from local synonyms for oak.
During these years, they have defined the best plots that give the desired qualitative standards. The price for grapes dedicated to the Quercus line is usually 30 % higher than that of the grapes that reach the same quality level but don’t come from these selected plots.
Vines are old between 10 and 40 years and are facing exposures from south to southeast. They are planted on marl and sandstone, at an altitude between 100 and 120 meters, and looked after low-intervention principles.
Grapes are hand-picked at their optimal ripeness. Freerun juice is used in the process and is put in stainless tanks with fine lees. It is stirred for the next six months and ferments at temperatures around 14 ° Celsius. They don’t allow malolactic fermentation here.
This results in a crystallin Rebula of strawy-yellow colour with a silver hue and fair density. The bouquet is alluringly intense, fruity. We detect quince, vineyard peach, yellow apple, lemon, also orange peel and melon. With a note of lemon thyme, white roses and almonds in the finish.
The palate is dry, soft; alcohol is nicely built-in. It refreshes un and leaves a gentle, salty mineral taste. An intense, medium-bodied wine with an elegant and lasting taste. The fruitiness is repeated on the palate, leaving a lovely, almondy flavour with us.
This is a refreshing, non-demanding wine that will please many, especially in the forthcoming season, when temperatures rise with the sun caressing us. For the approximate price of 5 Eur, it is a bargain! You can order it straight at their online store, but you’ll find it in stores abroad and most supermarkets in Slovenia.
