Time to look at someone new here. We’re strolling around the slopes of Brda. Above the village of Višnjevik, Alan Kristančič and his family shape the reality of Kristalvin. A brand with a long tradition of winemaking dating back to 1808. Tonight we’ll look at one of his recent additions, a Rebula crafted with prolonged skin contact and maturation in barriques.

Grapes for this wine come from a 35 years old vineyard at an altitude of 230 meters above sea level. After hand-harvesting, bunches were destemmed and crushed. They macerated for 21 days with spontaneous fermentation. After gentle pressing, the wine matured with fine lees in barriques for eighteen months, two were new, and four used. Bottling was executed without filtration and with minimum addition of So2, and the wine needed to settle in bottles six months before coming to the market.

This rebula displays a deep, golden yellow colour with a slight amber rim.

The bouquet is intense, mostly herbal. I detect sage, hay, black tea, dried apple and pineapple slices, candied orange, raisins, caramel, sweet root, anise, rosemary, as well as forest honey and nutmeg with a touch of smokiness at the end.

A dry expression with softness and well-integrated alcohols. At the same time showing crisp freshness and minerality, with perceivable tannins drying my mouths. An intense, structured wine shows mainly caramel, anise, liquorice, yellow apple and tropical fruits in the aftertaste.

A bottle will cost you approximately 17 Eur, and you can get it by contacting the winemaker at +386 31 855 162 or sending an e-mail to info@kristalvin.si.