Radgonske Gorice – Untouched by light, 2016

Finally, I’ve had the pleasure of tasting something that generated quite some buzz in the last two years. I’m speaking of Radgonske Gorice‘s Untouched by light. A sparkle where producers took a lot of care to prevent any exposure to sunlight.

I noticed it first at an advertising festival, which almost immediately sparked my intention. It was an advertising case of a really excellent product lunch, and this helped to generate fuzz. I wanted to taste it prior to judging anything, and finally, after all this time, I got the pleasure.

It’s a Blanc de Blancs from a vineyard planted in 1989 on south-facing slopes of Radgonske Gorice in Eutric brown soil mixed with gravel and produced with the traditional method with four years of ageing on lees before disgorging. With a final dosage of 6,9 g/l. The trick here was that everything was done in the dark, harvesting at night, ageing in the dark with 99,8 % dark bottles, matured in the darkest part of the cellar, disgorged in the dark and even sealed under vacuum in a unique black zip bag.

Dark and dark was the room when we tasted it. Or better, lights were dimmed as we had to see something. Untouched by light features a brilliant golden colour with numerous and delicate bubbles.

The nose is delicate. Initially, it feels earthy, with subtle notes of dried apple slices, pineapple, a gentle reminder of butter sponge and bread crust.

When tasted, it explodes, bubbles are cuddling our mouth and adding a touch to its elegance. Extra brut, with crisp freshness and a pronounced mineral salty taste. Flavours intensify on the palate, giving room to fruitiness, bread crust and minerality, finishing with a pleasant umami taste.

A wine with a pronounced, elegant taste where the dosage is nicely balanced with very refined bubbles and persistency. A gastronomic sparkler for sure!

2.000 bottles were made, and one will cost you a good 100 Eur. You can order it online, and it will also be available in selected restaurants across Slovenia.

And if you wonder, here’s how the product advert looks like.