Wine Region: Vipava Valley

(2007) Made in barriques, both French and local oak, from a forest next to vineyard. Three days of a hot maceration. Big, oaky, nutty nose, very slightly oxidised. Lots of waxy richness and white fruits. On the palate there is plenty of alcohol and acidity, but a core of sweet apple fruit and that nuttiness persists. Quite orange pithy notes in the finish, and plenty of power, if a little alcoholic (14% alcohol).

(2007) For Pinot Noir a 3 or 4 day cold maceration of de-stemmed whole grapes. 80% of vines are Champagne clones - Matja has experimented with Burgundy clones, but has had really good results with these clones that give him the colour and aromatics that he wants and that seem to suit this climate and soil. From a rainy vintage, and there's the merest hint of a little rot, but the fruit is quite bright with a smoky, redcurrant and cranberry aroma and small fennel and spicy notes. Very attractive. On the palate it has a medium-bodied, silky mouthfeel. There is plenty of acidity here, with a lot of freshness, and although it maybe lacks a little fruit, it has nice balance with spice and some toast and crisp tannins.

(2007) Old clone from this valley. Made with a very long skin maceration, influenced by Josko Gravener's philosophy and revival of ancient techniques, so the wine has structure and staying power, but loses fruit. Very different from NZ or Loire Sauvignon, with an intense, skinny, wax and parcel string nose. Some pear skin notes. On the palate this is tight and waxy, with very firm acidity and plenty of apple and pear skin flavours and tight structure. A really dry, racy, but full food wine.

(2007) More toasty, charry oak on the nose, with less of the slightly herbal character and more of a soft, earthy, sweet vanillin quality and some good fruit. On the palate a silky texture and obvious underlying fruit sweetness. Nice life about this again, with very good acid structure and crisp tannins. There is a lingering spiciness here and the fruit, though discreet, persists.

(2007) Pinella, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Rebula. Plenty of toasty, deep oak notes over ripe apricot fruit. Very open and flattering compared to the Sauvignon. On the palate very dry, with mineral and herbal flavours dominating, and fruit very restrained and tight. The fruit - melons and pears - is constrained by the oak and the skinny, grippy extraction. Miha Batič thinks this is too young and needs time. Complex, dry and savoury.

(2007) From magnum (all that is left in the cellar). A very good vintage, with adequate rain and a drying wind that kept rot away through until September. Oak very subdued, with a rounded, soft, earthy fruit character with a little strawberry and redcurrant. There's a dry, slightly ashy smokiness, that sits very nicely with the supple fruit character. This has the nicest fruit, with a bright cherry fruitiness coming through, and a smoky, spicy background with some enriching truffle and gamy character. Avery nice expression of Pinot, with lovely concentration and structure, but finesse and fine length.

(2007) 25-year-old Pinot Gris. Coppery and full coloured. Plenty of toast and orange oil notes, with a rich, powerful herbal quality and a lovely underlying apricot kernel fruitiness. The palate is quite full and waxy, with a nice sense of freshness and raciness. This is tight and focused, with the same skin-contact grip and complexity, but an orangy acidity and core of pure fruit powers through. Long and balanced.

(2007) Big barrels. A great vintage - could pick as late as they wanted. Still a full, rich ruby colour. Lots of cedar and pencil-shaving finesse, with plum and fine cherry, and a background of tobacco and some chocolaty notes. Plenty of fruit on the palate, with a gamy, meaty edge to very ripe, creamy, plum and cherry fruit. That lovely cedary, Bordeaux-like finesse is evident, with fine, supple tannins and good structure. Drinking beautifully, but has time ahead of it.

(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) 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.