Simcic Marjan Opoka Cru Chardonnay 2017

The Opoka Cru Chardonnay from the Simčič Marjan estate comes from the Goriška Brda region, in western Slovenia, close to the Italian border and the Friuli region. The vines are planted on well-exposed slopes around the village of Ceglo, on marl-limestone soils called "opoka", rich in minerals and renowned for producing deep, taut wines. The climate is influenced by both the Adriatic Sea and the Alps, offering temperature swings that favour slow, balanced ripening of the grapes.

The Chardonnay grapes are harvested by hand at full ripeness, then destemmed and lightly crushed before a few hours of skin contact. The must ferments with native yeasts in oak barrels, where the wine then remains on fine lees with regular bâtonnage. Ageing continues for a long time in barriques and large casks, allowing gradual integration of the oak and controlled oxygenation, before a further rest in bottle to stabilise and refine the cuvée.

This wine reveals notes of white-fleshed fruit, toasted nuts and citrus zest, complemented by delicate floral touches, spicy nuances and a fine toasty oak register supported by a mineral backbone. On the palate, the texture is ample and structured, carried by precise acidity that lengthens the tasting, with a slightly creamy texture, lovely tension and a long, saline, persistent finish.

Slovenia is a small European country with a long history of wine production. Viticulture dates back to the Celts, who were the first to produce wine in what is now Slovenia, 400 years before Christ. With the arrival of the Romans in the first century AD, viticulture developed further. But let's talk a little about what happened during the last century: despite the cultural and political turmoil that plagued the Balkan states, Slovenia maintained its wine industry, which has been particularly prosperous since the country gained its independence from the former Yugoslavia. Slovenia has a diverse geography, offering a wide variety of microclimates. The region is bordered to the north by the Austrian Alps, to the west by Italy and the Adriatic Sea, to the east by Hungary, and to the south by Croatia. The grape varieties cultivated in Slovenia show Italian influence in the west, Germanic influence in the east, and a growing "international" French influence overall. This multifaceted influence contributes to a very diverse and surprising range of wines!