February 2023
Matic
Kerner 2021
Producer Profile
Matija Žerjav, known simply as Matic, is young, motivated, and thoughtful. All of his wines are dry farmed and hand harvested on his 8-hectare estate in northeastern Slovenia, just outside the city of Maribor. Matic uses only native yeasts for fermentation and finishes the wines without fining or filtration. Minimal SO2 is added at bottling as needed. Our favorite note about the Matic winery is that it recently became certified carbon neutral - a huge achievement that we’re thrilled to be able to support.
Tasting Notes
Fresh and floral aromatics with a hint of bubblegum and key lime. Salinity and a full body round out the palate. Extended contact with the lees adds a slight creamy note, pulling everything together.
Pairing Suggestions
Grilled fruits or vegetables would be fun with this. Fresh salad with grilled peaches, candied nuts, and some dirty blue cheese.
| The region: Stajerska, Slovenia |
The style: White, Natural, Organic |
The grapes: Kerner |
Korenika & Moškon
Producer Profile
Founded in 1984, not long after the death of Tito, Koreniko & Moškon captures the liberating spirit of a rejuvenated Slovenia as the area thawed from the Cold War. The winery is built on the idea that Slovenian winemaking could regain the deep heritage and tradition it lost decades prior with the onset of communism. Since 1984, a new tradition has been built by the family as led by Miran Korenika: quality, sustainability, and ethical winemaking. They back up this tradition with recognition: having become Demeter and Organic Certified through the EU (these two certifications are the highest standard for sustainable farming on the continent currently). The winery and vineyards are located in Istria, tucked up on the Adriatic coast mere miles from both Croatia and Italy. Their mixed use farms grow many varieties of grapes as well as many olive tree groves - creating a dynamic farming environment that helps keep the land happy and healthy. The winery is now fully run by Matej (Miran’s son) and his wife Katja, the two of whom oversaw the organic and biodynamic certification of the farm. We hope you enjoy these lush, natural, and oh-so-fine wines!
Malvazija 2019
Tasting Notes
A few days of skin contact bulks up what’s usually a quite bright grape - ripe stone fruit (peach, pear), mango, distinct pineapple, honeysuckle, slate and a light touch of almonds. Strong acid and a whisper of tannin give the finish nice weight.
Pairing Suggestions
Plays well with spicy dishes. A nice authentic curry or Oaxacan cuisine, both easy to find around Spooner, I know.
| The region: Slovenian Istria |
The style: White, Natural, Organic |
The grapes: Malvasia |
Bis 2017
Tasting Notes
This Pinot Noir/Merlot blend is immediately interesting because of the curious combo but also because of how precise the classic pinot and merlot qualities come through. Cherry, crunchy raspberry, and rose petal aromatics from pinot but with the full tannins and leathery, chocolatey punch of merlot. All with a lovely long finish.
Pairing Suggestions
This would be the Valentine’s dinner pick. It should pair well with many different cuisines, from juicy steak to roast chicken to charred veggies. Pick your favorite and enjoy the evening!
| The region: Slovenian Istria |
The style: Red, Natural, Organic |
The grapes: Merlot, Pinot Noir |
Refošk 2019
*open up ~30 minutes before drinking, it needs to breath*
Tasting Notes
Rustic and tobacco-y at first whiff, burning off to nice ripe cherry, blueberry, and raspberry. Deep herbaceousness and leather on the palate with a touch of that rustic tobacco in the finish. Black pepper and other spices also dance around a bit. A wine with a lot of depth to explore.
Pairing Suggestions
Any smoked meat would be a big winner here. Cured meats as well. Any red meat that delivers that complex aromatic profile. The high acid in the finish is an excellent palate reset for aggressively potent foods.
| The region: Slovenian Istria |
The style: Red, Natural, Organic |
The grapes: Refošk |