Prinčič – Mihael Chardonnay, 2016

Let’s head back to the Prinčič family today to look at their oak-matured, selected Chardonnay version, which we find under the range Mihael. And it’s the occasion to raise our glass high, as Tomaž – the winemaker celebrated his birthday this Saturday.

A single-vineyard expression of Chardonnay, coming from a plot named Kraška Brajda, with vines aged close to thirty years. The aspect is south, and they are planted at an altitude of fifty-eight meters above sea level, spanning over a goog hectare of terraces on Brda’s Opoka soil.

Bunches for this Chardonnay were hand-harvested, destemmed and gently pressed. Grape juice was left to self clarify for 36 hours. Fermentation was started at controlled temperatures at 14 ° Celsius and then transferred in a 500-litre oak barrel with bâtonnage for a year. It conducted malolactic conversion.

This results in a Chardonnay with clear and deep golden yellow colour. The texture is dense.

Intense aromas evoke overripe fruit and sweet spices. It unveils hints of dried apple slices, peach compote, pineapple slices, candied lemon, toffee, vanilla, butter, shortcrust pastry, marzipan, roasted hazelnuts and caramel. We also notice dry oregano, cedar and a flinty undertone.

The mouthfeel is soft, reasonably warm, with ripe freshness and mineral salinity. It feels balanced and reaffirms wood ageing notes with sweet spices, caramel and dried fruit—a wine of intensity and structure with a medium-to-lasting aftertaste.

A Chardonnay with all the attributes to keep its shape through time. I’d taste it again in three years just to see how it developed and how bottle ageing is affecting it. You can order it at the winemaker, by calling +386 5 30 41 272 or sending an email to info@princic.si. A bottle will cost you approximately 12 Eur.