Kozinc – Chardonnay selekcija, 2017

Dolenjska offers such a variety of landscapes it simply calls for discovering, meeting open-minded, happy people and tasting local wines. And this Chardonnay selekcija produced at Kozinc shows an additional character of an oak matured expression that simply enchants. I’m delighted as I was finally able to taste this recent release from their cellar.

Grapes are coming from a south-facing vineyard named Laz, at an altitude between 340 and 390 meters above sea level, with the soil composed of marl, limestone and loam.

Hand-harvested bunches are destemmed and crushed. The mash then macerates at controlled temperatures for forty-eight hours. After gentle pressing, it is racked with fine lees into used French barriques for eighteen months, entirely conducting malolactic fermentation. Finally, it was bottled and waited in the cellar until finally coming to the market in March this year.

This Chardonnay has a deep golden yellow colour, with a slight amber tinge. The texture is dense, quickly stopping swirling in the glass.

The bouquet is intense, of overripe fruit. We notice baked apple, candied orange, dried pineapple, chestnut honey, wood, cedar, roasted hazelnuts, toffee, caramel, thyme and rosemary, and a note of white pepper.

The taste is dry, reasonably warm,  refreshing, with a touch of tannins. An intense, full-bodied wine with an elegant and lasting aftertaste in which the notes of oak ageing are expressed – roasted, caramel, vanilla, butter, bread crust and then baked apples and citruses.

Everything is well-thought with this wine, and even the label hides something behind it. Just look at the edge and open it gently; you’ll see. A bottle will cost you 20 Eur, and you can get it by calling 041 876 047, sending an e-mail to davidkozinc@gmail.com or at Sava valley wines.