2021 Ferdinand - Malvazija Goriska Brda (750ml)

Ferdinand is a family winery in Slovenia's Goriška Brda, led today by agronomist Matjaž Četrtič, who revived a winemaking tradition first established by his great-grandfather, also named Ferdinand. The estate sits in a terroir nestled between the Adriatic, the Alps, and Friuli, where rolling hills warm in Mediterranean sun by day and cool at night. While Rebula is the house's signature grape, made in several distinct styles, Ferdinand also crafts a range of other Brda varieties, including this Malvazija.

The grapes for this wine come from vineyards on marl and sandstone soil, trained on a simple guyot system with modest yields. Hand-picked fruit is pressed gently under low pressure, and the must is cooled and left to settle before a clean racking into stainless steel for fermentation. The wine is moved off its fermentation lees quickly to preserve freshness, skips malolactic conversion, and is bottled the summer after harvest.

The nose is floral with ripe apple, nuts, and a mushroom-like earthiness. On the palate it is dry with lively acidity, showing green apple and a touch of butter, and it benefits from a little time in the glass to fully open. The finish is long and satisfying. It pairs well as an aperitif, with roast poultry, lamb, or grilled fish.