Veltlina. Slobodne - 2021

Slobodne Vinarstvo translates to ‘the free winery’ which is only fitting, as they are working on the same historic estate that once belonged to their family, recovered after nearly 60 years of separation due to WWII and then 40 years of communism in the region. The family have spent the last 25+ years rebuilding the ecosystem of the farm and eventually launched Slobodne in 2010. Using exclusively Gruner Vetliner, this wine is fermenting with native yeast and then aged in neutral eggs and acacia barrels. The result is a slightly cloudy wine with just a tinge of amber/orange. Notes reminiscent of a cedar humidor drew me into the glass. Followed with fruit tones of yellow peach and nectarine. There is a crisp tannic bitterness on the palate