(2017) I had a wonderful visit to Slovenia a few years ago, to the north-western Primorski region which borders Friuli in Italy, with really very similar wine styles. This is made from the indigenous Zelèn variety in an aromatic and crisp, refreshing style. The nose marries waxy limes, peach down and more exotic lychee, before the palate which has lots of texture, a rippling lemon and lime acidity and a dry, cool, fruity core. Extremely tasty, and one of those all-rounder whites from soft cheeses like chaource, to fish, to a korma chicken curry. Watch the video for more information.
(2007) Bold, quite brassy colour. Big, sweet, plush and attractive nose, with buttery toast nicely balanced by a real depth of fruit sweetness. An almost minty, mint humbug ripeness and richness here. That ripeness and sweet edge familiar on the palate too, with bold, quite oily fruit cut through by very nice mineral acidity. That purity and ripeness of fruit comes through.
(2007) Field blend of Pinella, Muscat, Rebula, Zelen, Klarnica, Chardonnay. Racy orange and grassy character. Some linseed, flax and hessian notes, but also an intriguing floral lift and a touch of spearmint. The palate is powerful and skinny, with lots of grip and lots of pithy lemon. The peppery quality of the oak comes through, but very clean and fresh and really promising.
(2007) 9% alcohol. Quite a high, estery, floral nose with plenty of zing and lemony zip. crisp, taut, pithy grapefruit flavours and white fruit acidity. Very fresh and bracing.
(2007) Pinot Gris. Around 10,000 bottles, so a big commercial wine selling around 5 Euros cellar door. Very bright, attractive fruit with juicy ogen melon and fat lemony fruit. On the palate a lovely fruit quality. It is dry, but lovely fruit sweetness comes through and a nicely judged orangy acidity. A beautifully pitched Pinot Gris.
(2007) Bold, fruity, very lightly herbal notes with a nettly undertone. Matjaž thinks it is the rainy vintage that has promoted this characteristic. On the palate the lychee and pineapple ripeness of the fruit comes through, with a very nice juicy melon and citrus acidity with a grapefruit tang. Very fresh and mouthfilling, but that Sauvignon-like vibrancy pushes through. Delicious.
(2007) Not for sale yet. Macerated for three weeks to bring as much anti-oxidants as possible from the grape to avoid use of sulphur. Rooted in traditional methods here. Matured in steamed new barrels, so there was almost no oak flavour imparted. Copper coloured wine. Lots of caramel and honey on the nose, with a creamy aroma and a persimmon note. The palate has that richness and chewy caramel character, but there is a robust fruitiness of bruised apples and sherry-like fruit and oxidised character that adds up to a complex picture, with the oxidised, waxy, phenolic character of the traditional style and some freshness and brightness.
(2007) Fermented with D47, an old Burgundian yeast. Fine nose from barrel, with very clear, forward melon and pear fruit. Nice sense of delicacy and finesse here. The palate has fine, ripe but taut and racy white fruit. Very nice balance and life.
(2007) Fermented and aged in large wooden vats, with around 10% skins. Very aromatic, much more lifted, bright tropical fruit. Very nice elderflower punch and notes of lychee and tangerine. On the palate the vivid quality of the ripe fruit comes through, and there's just a hint of that grip from the skins. Lovely quality and style here and beautifully vibrant and fresh
(2007) Again a finally balanced nose, with creamy oak in the background and very finely honed, honeysuckle and ripe pear and apple fruit. Some fat lemony fruit comes through, in a delightfully appetising wine. The palate has lots of flavour, with plenty of concentration and a dry, nutty character, but the juiciness and ripeness persists. Tangy and intense.
