We’re returning today to Marinko Pintar, the humble, jet charismatic character pushing forward the consortium of abandoned vineyards – UOU. We’ll taste a unique expression of Malvasia, the Malvazija Ivanka – named after the lady who used to own the vineyard that gives fruit for this fantastic wine.

The vineyard is positioned at the slopes of St. Katarina hill, locally known as Kekec, in the immediate vicinity to Solkan, the town where Marinko’s cellar is. The vineyard lay at approximately 130 meters above sea level and was planted in 1937 into flysch soil. The vineyard is looked after following organic principles, using algae infusions, sulphur and copper. A lot of demanding work is invested into the renovation and care of such a respectfully old vineyard. Still, it pays off tremendously, looking at the quality it expresses in the final wine.

Grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed and crushed. The mash then macerates with spontaneous fermentation at uncontrolled temperatures for up to twenty days. After a gentle pressing, the wine is racked into used barriques, maturing for sixteen months.

This expresses in a Malvasia of a golden yellow colour with amber hues. As you notice at a glance, the wine is unfiltered – it shows some haziness and sediment in the bottle. Dense, with slowly slipping tears down the walls of the glass.

The bouquet is exhilarating, with intense aromas of dried apricots, pineapple slices, candied oranges, anise, vanilla, white pepper, chamomile, yellow plums, thyme, rosemary, finishing with a touch of butteriness and caramel.

The taste is dry, with expressive softness. It refreshes our palate and leaves a tasty mineral feel that is followed by a slightly astringent touch. An intense, full-bodied wine with a lasting persistency in which freshness indicates that it still has a lot of life ahead of it. Flavours of dried apple, chamomile, anise and caramel are expressed in the mouth.

A wine of a generous character, lifting the spirit high that calls for enjoying over a table full of delis in the company of friends. A bottle will cost you approximately 28 Eur, and you can get it at Dobro vino, Faladur and Kletvica.