Šuklje – Belo 140, 2018

We’re returning to Bela Krajina tonight to the Šuklje family to taste their acacia refined blend of Kerner and Riesling named Belo 140. An atypical combination, but read through the lines, and hopefully, you’ll be sparkled to try some yourself.

Belo stands for white, and 140 is actually the sum of golidnars that one of the ancestors – Matija Šuklje, paid for a hill below the village and planted his first vines.

Grapes come from the vineyard Doma, where sub-Pannonian and moderate continental climates get spiced by the Mediterranean. Vines are aged between 25 to 30 years on loamy clay soil.

Each variety is hand-picked at optimal ripeness. Kerner – a cross between Riesling and Trollinger, represents 80 % of the blend. Its juice is barrel fermented in acacia barrels of 300 and 500 litres on lees for eight months. At the same time, Riesling ferments in stainless vats for the same time. Finally, both are blended and bottled.

Belo 140 shows a dense, crystalline, golden yellow colour.

Intense aromas evoke at first rosemary and paprika leaf, followed by ripe yellow apple, kiwi, melon, white peach, even white roses. The next swirl brings in vanilla, buttery notes and flaky dough, as well as a light caramel finish.

The taste is intense, soft and warm, but also refreshing and mineral. The later sensations are crisp and prolonging the persistency of the wines elegant character and full-bodied structure.

A wine that is ready to drink now, but it will be even better in three to five years. A bottle will cost you approximately 12 Eur. As this is the latest release that is slowly coming to the market, you’ll find around the vintage 2017 at their online shop and Vinoo.co, Koželj, Deliz, Repovž, Sava valley vines, Zagriz and Wevino.