Marof Kramarovci Chardonnay 2021

Drink it now or cellar for up to 15 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour. Marof is a young Slovenian winery with vineyards located in the small sub-region of Goricko not far from the Hungarian border. The company, which in its less than 20 years of operation has already achieved great national and international success, cultivates its vineyards organically and, in the cellar, uses traditional methods with an innovative and non-interventionist approach. The Chardonnay grapes are hand-picked from Kramarovci, one of the three Grand Crus of the Marof estate. The vines, about 40 years old, are rooted in a volcanic site at an altitude of 320 to 350 m, where the soil is composed of basaltic tuff, slate, calcareous marl, and marine sediments. After pressing and fermentation with indigenous yeasts, the finished wine rests for 15 months in large barrels, before being bottled without fining or filtration. The result is an energetic and elegant wine with a fragrant aromatic profile with notes of yellow plum, apricot, and chamomile flowers, hints of honey, and spices. On the palate, it is lively and juicy, mineral and refreshing with a well-balanced acidity and a creamy texture. It is powerful and taut with a long finish, which recalls mineral notes. This is a rich and refined wine that can stay in the cellar for over a decade. If you can't wait, serve it with pork tenderloin, oily fish, or shellfish.

Price: £30.24 from 8wines UK