WTN: An orange Slovenian

Čotar Dražna Belo 2005 - Slovenia, Primorska, Kras

Malvazija 40%, Vitovska 30%, Sauvignon 15% and Chardonnay 15%; 12,5% abv; c.25€



A lovely "orange" wine. A very natural scent full of earthy aromas coupled to the sweet, floral and turkish delight scents of Malvazija. Despite the sweet overtones this wine has admirable citrus and steel aromas that, with the strong earthiness, balance it through savouryness.

Dry and crisply citrussy with a steely, mineral core. It seems a bit tannic, too. The sweetness suggested by one aspect of the scent doesn't carry onto the palate.

It is a strange and lovely wine with so many sides to it that I felt like I was drinking two wines instead of one - yet these aspects meld together logically and the end result is cohesive. Fascinating and lovely.

Interesting note Otto. Nice to see bookcase organised this time.LOL.

Nice to see bookcase organised this time.LOL.

Is it really? LOL!

The second day open was even better. It wasn't so obviously dominated by Malvazija and sweet, rosewater scents. Savoury dominates. Awesome wine! Yesterday was awesome, too, but it was differently awesome.

Funny how I first poured this into a Tempranillo glass and then felt the scent was claustrophobic in it and eventually ended up drinking this from a fish-bowl Pinot Noir glass!

Was this white fermented on the skins and aged (without SO2) in glazed-clay amphorae buried in the ground?

They used to make wines like this in NE Italy, but I think the 3 Bicchieri/Parker standardization of tastes has unfortunately relegated this type of wine-making to the edge of the world, beyond the Pillars of Hercules....

Very nice tasting note, Otto!