Marof Breg Sauvignon 2018 Slovenia

The Marof Winery and vineyards can be found in Goricko, right up in the North-East of Slovenia, near the borders with Austria, Croatia and Hungary. This part of Slovenia was first planted to vines over a century ago by the old Hungarian noble family Szapary, but has seen a lot of change. In the 1960s, mostly native American vine varieties were planted, with these vineyards in Mackovci and Bodonci some of the only exceptions. The modern winery was built in 2007, well after SloveniaÕs initial winemaking boom in the 1980s, but focusing on these excellent vineyard sites and classic Central European grapes which, up to that point, were being sold to local large wineries for bulk wine. Winemaking is decidedly low-intervention and farming is organic. The Breg Sauvignon comes from the Bodonci vineyard, Marof's warmest site, and is fermented with native yeast with a short 5 days of skin contact. It ages for 15 months on the fine lees in 600L French oak barrels and enormous 3000L oak cask. Made very much with an eye to Pouilly-Fume and perhaps Californias Fume Blanc, there is rich woody character of smoke and caramel and buttery texture to soften the racy orchard fruit of golden apples, grapefruit and blackcurrant leaf.