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Winner Details

Slovenia

There’s always one category in the Sommelier Wine Awards that we have high hopes for but turns out to be a big disappointment, and this year it was Slovenia. To be fair, it’s happened before.

A couple of times in the past we’ve seen the country look like it was breaking out of the ‘also-ran’ category – much like Turkey, Greece and Hungary all have – only to slip back again the next year. And after a good 2019, so it was in 2020.

Two Golds under £10 – a red and a white – was not a bad showing. But our tasters just wanted more. They wanted more bottles, for starters, and more excitement in general. There’s clearly good wine being made here, and that interesting mixture of grape varieties should give the country a natural and obvious USP.

But at the moment the message isn’t coming through consistently enough or loudly enough. Here’s hoping for more in 2021.

From The Tasting Teams

‘None were standing out here. It was a flight of generic wines made in a cool-ferment style and I couldn’t pull out a specific variety or a sense of place, which is a shame.’ Joshua Castle, Noble Rot

‘I didn’t find anything really exceptional here. There was a mixture of varieties and some were trying to make a Sauvignon Blanc style with green-fruit acidity. Others were kind of pithy and bitter.’ Sarah Jane Evans MW, team leader

‘The market is opening more and more to countries like Slovenia, and those delivering value for money are in demand. This flight was good, and I can easily see these wines in bistros and brasseries. It’s definitely up and coming.’ Marco Marcuzzo, Zuma Rome

‘For a sommelier, Slovenia looks like a smart choice, but I wasn’t taken by many of these wines.’ Sarah Jane Evans MW, team leader

 

Award winners

Found 7 wines

Slovenia

Klet Brda, Quercus, Cabernet/Merlot 2018, Goriška Brda, Slovenia

Gold medal winner

'A fantastic wine that's very good value for money, with red fruit and herbal notes, and an earthy character too.'
Immacolata Cannavo, Hakkasan Mayfair.

'Redcurrants and red fruits on a pungent nose, with a bit of spice and lots of acidity on the fresh palate, and plenty of raspberry fruit. This would be an intriguing option by the glass.'
Michael Driscoll, Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa.

£7.84 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Puklavec Family Wines, Ena Dva Tri, Sauvignon Blanc/Furmint 2018, Podravje, Slovenia

Gold medal winner

'A bold and punchy style, with bushels of citrus acidity backed up by a creamy palate.'
Sarah Jane Evans MW, team leader.

'Ripe white stone fruits, along with grassy notes and hints of white flowers on the back palate, with a rounded finish.'
Marco Marcuzzo, Zuma Rome.

'This has high acidity, with good lees character and plenty of citrus fruit. A great match for raw oysters.'
Immacolata Cannavo, Hakkasan Mayfair.

£9.56 Bibendum

Klet Brda, Quercus, Rebula 2019, Primorska, Slovenia

Bronze medal winner

'There's great energy on the palate here, which feels quite silky and bright.'
Joshua Castle, Noble Rot.

'Rhubarb and pear, aromatics, with a plush, plump palate that's both crisp and ripe. An individual wine that would pair well with fish in a cream sauce.'
Sarah Jane Evans MW, team leader.

£7.84 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Puklavec Family Wines, Seven Numbers, Furmint 2018, Podravje, Slovenia

Bronze medal winner

'A complex wine with a blend of citrus, florality and pithiness, leading to a very long finish. Individual and characterful.'
Sarah Jane Evans MW, team leader.

'This is showing some clean, ripe yellow stone fruits accompanied by some high acidity on a creamy palate, with elderflower and blossom notes on the nose.'
Marco Marcuzzo, ZUMA Rome.

£14.93 Bibendum

Klet Brda, Quercus, Pinot Bianco 2019, Goriška Brda, Slovenia

Commended medal winner

Klet Brda, Quercus, Pinot Grigio 2019, Goriška Brda, Slovenia

Commended medal winner

Puklavec Family Wines, Ena Dva Tri, Furmint 2019, Podravje, Slovenia

Commended medal winner

£10.26 Bibendum