Slovenian wine - the tasting notes
The following is a collection of tasting notes on 156 Slovenian wines taken mainly in Slovenia last November at two big tastings of wines from western and inland Slovenia, pre-selected by wine writer Robert Gorjak. They are supplemented by tasting notes taken on various cellar visits there (clearly marked below) and some notes on wines that were more recently sent to me in London by Movia, one of the better known producers in Brda, western Slovenia. They should be read in conjunction with my more general comments on Slovenia.
It has to be said that many Slovenian wine labels would be quite impenetrable on export markets, although there are some notable exceptions.
Slovenia’s chief export market is the US with producers such as Tilia having made considerable inroads there. The following is a list of UK and then US importers, where known, of the producers I visited in Brda and Vipava:
(Marjan) Simčič – H&H Bancroft and two in the US (MI and CA)
Edi Simčič – Astrum and Small Vineyards of Seattle
Movia – Domaine Select, NY
Vinska Klet (Dobrova co-op) – Berkmann of London
Santomas – Waterloo Wine of London
Sutor – Astrum of London
Santomas, Malvazija 2006 Slovenska Istra 15 Drink 2008-10
12.5%, 7 €
Silly flange bottle but good label design. 'Take no prisoners' style of Malvazija, the trademark variety of Istria in both Slovenia and Croatia – bone dry and some honey and appleskin character on the nose but pretty lightweight on the palate. Refreshing and confident and a wine to admire but not one to serve as an introduction to Slovenia for the uninitiated.
Santomas, Refošk Antonius 2003 Slovenska Istra 15 Drink 2008-10
13%, around 15 €
Dark purple. Lighter than Certeze and a little too much like hard work. Better balanced than some but still a bit severe for export markets.
Santomas, Grand Couvée Certeze 2004 Slovenska Istra 16.5++ Drink 2008-12
14.5%, Refošk, 20 €
Single vineyard and nice ripe nose. Very deep purple. Round and quite international. Some top quality oak in evidence – some spice, nicely tamed Refosco. Well done! But I suspect this is very expensive...
The following is a collection of tasting notes on 156 Slovenian wines taken mainly in Slovenia last November at two big tastings of wines from western and inland Slovenia, pre-selected by wine writer Robert Gorjak. They are supplemented by tasting notes taken on various cellar visits there (clearly marked below) and some notes on wines that were more recently sent to me in London by Movia, one of the better known producers in Brda, western Slovenia. They should be read in conjunction with my more general comments on Slovenia.
It has to be said that many Slovenian wine labels would be quite impenetrable on export markets, although there are some notable exceptions.
Slovenia’s chief export market is the US with producers such as Tilia having made considerable inroads there. The following is a list of UK and then US importers, where known, of the producers I visited in Brda and Vipava:
(Marjan) Simčič – H&H Bancroft and two in the US (MI and CA)
Edi Simčič – Astrum and Small Vineyards of Seattle
Movia – Domaine Select, NY
Vinska Klet (Dobrova co-op) – Berkmann of London
Santomas – Waterloo Wine of London
Sutor – Astrum of London
Santomas, Malvazija 2006 Slovenska Istra 15 Drink 2008-10
12.5%, 7 €
Silly flange bottle but good label design. 'Take no prisoners' style of Malvazija, the trademark variety of Istria in both Slovenia and Croatia – bone dry and some honey and appleskin character on the nose but pretty lightweight on the palate. Refreshing and confident and a wine to admire but not one to serve as an introduction to Slovenia for the uninitiated.
Santomas, Refošk Antonius 2003 Slovenska Istra 15 Drink 2008-10
13%, around 15 €
Dark purple. Lighter than Certeze and a little too much like hard work. Better balanced than some but still a bit severe for export markets.
Santomas, Grand Couvée Certeze 2004 Slovenska Istra 16.5++ Drink 2008-12
14.5%, Refošk, 20 €
Single vineyard and nice ripe nose. Very deep purple. Round and quite international. Some top quality oak in evidence – some spice, nicely tamed Refosco. Well done! But I suspect this is very expensive...