Sunday calls for bubbles … And this traditionally produced Brut zero from Ščurek, one of Brda’s sunniest families, will be the right companion.
Finally, we’re allowed to move in our tiny country, and I’m happy I could jump to Brda and visit Nejcc Ščurek at the estate to plan the final details of our Thursday’s live tasting with the Sommelier association.
We’re greeted by Nejc popping open their Brut zero, and this is where the decision of describing it today was made.
Brut zero is a blend of 50 % Rebula, 40 % Chardonnay and 10 % Glera. Bunches are coming from the vineyard Grotišče, situated at an altitude between 100 to 140 meters above sea level. Vines count 15 years, and only grapes from the sun-protected slopes are used for this Penina.
The base wine was produced with careful attention, and picking was done while grapes offered just about the proper ripeness and acidity, ideal for the production of sparkling wine. Secondary fermentation was kicked in the bottle and the wine matured in bottles for 30 months. Following disgorgement, only the same wine was used as liqueur d’expedition, and after half a year of bottle ageing, it was ready to meet the thirsty drinkers.
You noticed I’m referring to this wine as Penina. Penina is Slovenia’s word for quality sparkling wine and is used to mark sparkling wines of quality, with protected designation of origin.
Ščurek’s Penina Brut zero displays a brilliant strawy yellow colour with golden nuances. It shows numerous fine and lasting pearls.
Aromas are refined, intense. We detect scents of ripe apple, dried pineapple, orange peel, hay, almond flower, pan brioche, marzipan, toast and a slight note of marl.
As it’s a pa dosage wine, it is bone dry, with a pronounced softness that is gently washed by its fine mouth-embracing perlage and crisp freshness, leaving a pleasant minerally bitter taste. The taste is intense and of a pronounced elegance that will please lovers of bone dry sparklers.
Ščurek’s Penina Brut zero is a stylistically produced sparkler that encompasses a reined essence of Brda’s complex terroir. A bottle costs approximately 16 Eur and is currently available only at their wine cellar. They frequently deliver around Slovenia, so you should be able to score some bottles by sending an email to nejc@scurek.com or by calling the number +386 31 526 245.
