2016 Ferdinand Pinot Grigio

Initial aromas of candied lime, pineapple, honeysuckle, and green apple evolve into flavors of white peaches, a variety of citrus fruits, clover honey, and hints of almonds.  Also immediately noticeable is a very refreshing saturated mouth feel where the minerals in the wine delight your taste buds.  There is very good balance across the palate, good acidity for lots of food pairings, and but also a feeling of power that definitely separates this from Italian Pinot Grigios.  In fact, it would be humorous to a blind tasting of this with some “experts” as there would probably be some guesses about this being a pretty good Marsanne in a ripe year from the Northern Rhone or maybe even a Meursault.

Vinska Klet Ferdinand is in the unique Brda region of Slovenia, nestled between the Adriatic sea, the European Alps and the Italian Friuli, where rolling hills are warmed by the Mediterranean sun during the day and cooled by Alpine breezes at night.  The proprietor, Matjaz Cetrtic, is the consummate wine professional applying his meticulous attention to detail to all aspects of production from his vineyards to his wine making where bringing out the full flavors of his grapes is his ultimate goal.

Making very full flavored and refreshing wines is also helped by the geology of Slovenia with its mineral rich soils from the alpine terrain near the wine producing regions.  This is particularly so with the winery’s Pinot Grigios where a wine that is thought of as a “light and fruity” when produced in alluvial soils in Italy becomes a refreshing and mineral rich wine when produced in Slovenia.

The commitment to excellence is also summed up by Matjaz Cetrtic describing the overall approach:

“We try to understand every vine site and its micro-climate to see which one is best suited for a certain variety and then choosing optimum locations and yields and the best harvest time. This is how we can grow the best grapes and turn them into unique wines in such a spontaneous and natural way.”
 
The Ferdinand vineyards are near the pretty village of Kojsko, where the Brda hills roll into the Slovenian Alps.  The vines grow on breathtakingly steep slopes with an eastern and southern view.  The vineyards are between 500 and 1,000 feet above sea level and benefit from extreme temperature changes between night and day. Combining a perfect altitude with the special position of the vineyards, the wines produced are harmonious and very fresh.  The “opoka” marl soil doesn’t allow for high yields and so the wines are full and suitable for longer storage and ageing.

The Ferdinand Terroir does not allow for a lot of machine work. The majority of work is done manually, which allows much better monitoring and quality control for the grape development. Vinification is also meticulous and precise. Grapes are gently pressed and all processes run naturally to preserve the natural properties of the terrain in the wine.