Edi Simčič
Primorska - Slovenia
The Winery
When it comes to the wines of Edi and Aleks Simčič, several descriptors spring immediately to mind: unrivalled, world-class, controversial… and by all standards, unique. Unlike so many of the stainless-aged Italians, even the whites of Simčič are fermented and aged for long periods in oak, often earning comparisons to high-end French wine. Multiple critics rank the estate among the very best in Eastern Europe and, as humble as they are, their name is quite well known to all the top producers in next-door Friuli. In terms of low yields, no one has higher standards than Edi Simčič. Toward that end, Aleks and his family don’t even own a sorting table. Working as a team, grandfather Edi, son Aleks, and grandson Jure make 3 passes per varietal per harvest, selecting each individual berry through sunlight. It’s no wonder their wines average just 700 grams per vine - closer to a half-bottle per plant than one bottle!
Today, the family works side by side on 12 hectares of tiny, non-contiguous crus spread out over hillsides in the tuckaway villages of Vipolže, Kozana and Fojana. Altitude varies, going from 90 meters up to 300, and exposition runs from south to west. In the cellar, all wines are fermented and aged in French oak barriques – a minimum of 10 months for the whites, and up to 4 years for reds. Needless to say, keeping tabs on every barrel and every vintage is a monumental task! One of our favorite sights is Aleks in the cellar, displaying his enormous, handwritten spreadsheets used to track each barrel and its variations. Every time he shows us, Aleks breaks into a broad grin - somewhere in between the world’s most peaceful farmer and a mad scientist extraordinaire.
For those unfamiliar with the area, traveling to Slovenia can be a magical experience. Goriška Brda has a dreamy, timeless quality to it: hamlets are nestled into the green hillsides rising toward the Alps, creating a gorgeous, tiered landscape. Although further north, the quality of light is distinctly Mediterranean. Artists and artisans can be found everywhere, including keen-eyed, intelligent winemakers who are nonetheless down to earth, and world-class chefs in rustic settings. (With everything produced just a few paces away, the term “farm to table” scarcely begins to cover it.) Truly, this little corner of the world one is of EU’s best kept secrets.
- Enologist
- Aleks Simčič
- Grapes Grown by Winery
- Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay,
Furlanski Tokaj, Malvazija, Merlot,
Pinot Grigio, Rebula, Sauvignon Blanc - Vineyard Size
- 12.0 ha
- Winemaker
- Aleks Simcic
- Winemaker Biography
- Creating wines that challenge convention and boggle the senses, father and son Edi and Aleks Simcic are among the happiest, talented, and most intuitive winemakers we know. Their farm sits on land that once belonged to Italy, and they may draw upon the French example, but their style is all their own.
- Winemaker Generation
- 2nd
Chardonnay Riserva
One of the finest Chardonnays produced anywhere in the world, this classic from Simčič offers a profound array of sweet cream, peaches, citrus, and honeycomb, along with a full, lush volume in the mouth. Most wineries ferment in steel, then pass through oak, giving the wine barbed edges and an inelegant balance; Simčič ferments his wine in the barrel, offering a soft, velvety tannin that is a confident and generous.
- Color
- Deep, golden hue
- Nose
- Extremely complex, with elements of juicy, tropical fruit, quince, honeycomb, butter and smoke
- Palate
- Opulent and persistent, with a faraway hint of “salt” (not unlike Pouilly-Fuissé or even Meursault)
- Finish
- Long, savory, and smooth
- Vineyard Location
- Goriska Brda, Primorska
- Vineyard Size
- 1.5 ha
- Varietals List
- 100% Chardonnay
- Farming Practices
- Organically farmed (non-certified) including dry-farmed; grapes picked by hand; vegan
- Elevation
- 110 m
- Soils
- Ponca (mineral-rich flysch also found in Friuli)
- Maturation Summary
- In Steel for 2 months and Bottled for 6 months
- In Steel
- 2 months
- Alcohol
- 13.0 %
- Acidity
- 5.2 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 1.3 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 4,000 bottles
Sauvignon Riserva
Winemaker Aleks Simčič has a heart for Sauvignon Blanc, and it shows. This voluptuous, ageworthy specimen bursts with rich varietal character on the nose. Its fully developed body offers a fine mineral core, with notes of mint, menthol, sweet-scented grass, honeycomb and white blossoms. With bottle aging, the mature fruits, exotic spices, and long finish become increasingly present. Perfect for grilled fish, or warm “primi piatti” with aromatic herbs.
- Color
- Deep, golden hues
- Nose
- Opens over time, with gooseberry, peach, wet stone, and butter
- Palate
- Full-bodied and savory with a rich, oily texture, ripe acidity, and persistent fruit
- Finish
- Long, balanced finish, suited to opulent food pairings
- Vineyard Location
- Goriska Brda, Primorska
- Vineyard Size
- 1.2 ha
- Varietals List
- 100% Sauvignon Blanc
- Farming Practices
- Organically farmed (non-certified) including dry-farmed; grapes picked by hand; vegan
- Elevation
- 120 m
- Soils
- Ponca (mineral-rich flysch also found in Friuli)
- Maturation Summary
- In Steel for 2 months and Bottled for 6-9 months
- In Steel
- 2 months
- Alcohol
- 13.0 %
- Acidity
- 5.7 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 1.6 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 3,000 bottles
Duet
Edi Simčič calls his wines “controversial.” Funny for a man whose quiet, timeless smile puts one completely at ease. But just over the Italian border, in the nature-blessed zone of Goriška Brda, Simčič is turning traditional heads with his stunningly bold wines. His Duet is pure Simčič: bold, stirring, compelling. Its richness is like a restaurant-only dessert: chocolate, cherries, cheesecake, and coffee. Its silky tannins underscore a lush, ripe, fruit-full body that goes on and on, and will improve for 20 years.
- Color
- Deep ruby, tinges of garnet as wine ages
- Nose
- Intense with ripe cherry, blackberry and blueberry with a backdrop of earthy bramble.
- Palate
- Full-bodied, yet lively, with abundant, vertical tannins.
- Finish
- Balanced and complex, medium+ finish
- Vineyard Location
- Goriska Brda, Primorska
- Vineyard Size
- 2.5 ha
- Varietals List
-
80% Merlot
10% Cabernet Franc
10% Cabernet Sauvignon - Farming Practices
- Organically farmed (non-certified) including dry-farmed; grapes picked by hand; vegan
- Elevation
- 110 m
- Soils
- Ponca (mineral-rich flysch also found in Friuli)
- Maturation Summary
- In French barrels for 24 months, in Steel 2 months and bottled 6 months
- In Steel
- 2 months
- Alcohol
- 13.5 %
- Acidity
- 5.3 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 1.7 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 8,000 bottles
Duet Lex Red Blend
A nano-production Cab-Merlot blend of stunning power, Duet Lex is deeply complex and refined. Extremely low yields concentrate the tannins, along with rich layers of plum, dark tea, and wood smoke. A monumental achievement that has garnered exceptional ratings from (among others) Wine Enthusiast: “Lifted blackberry and cherry aromas meld into flavors of ripe black-fruit, violet and black peppercorn in this bold, beautiful Bordeaux-style blend. It’s richly concentrated, with vibrant acidity and lush, furry tannins.”
- Color
- Deep ruby, with tinges of garnet as wine ages
- Nose
- Ripe dark fruit, with hints of vanilla, spicy black pepper, and smoke
- Palate
- Full bodied, with grippy tannins and plenty of structure
- Finish
- Long-lasting, with complex fruit and sweet spices like cloves and nutmeg
- Vineyard Location
- Goriska Brda, Primorska
- Vineyard Size
- 2 ha
- Varietals List
-
80% Merlot
10% Cabernet
10% Cab Franc - Farming Practices
- Organically farmed (non-certified) including dry-farmed; grapes picked by hand; vegan
- Elevation
- 80 m
- Soils
- Ponca (mineral-rich flysch also found in Friuli)
- Maturation Summary
- In French barrels for 48 months, in Steel 2 months and bottled 6 months
- In Steel
- 2 months
- Alcohol
- 14.5 %
- Acidity
- 6.2 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 1.9 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 7,000 bottles
Fojana Single Cru Rebula
One of Europe's best-kept secrets, the charismatic Rebula (Ribolla Gialla) grape grows in the textured, windswept hills of Friuli and next-door Slovenia. Here, this nano-production, single cru rendition from Aleks Simčič takes the classic variety to staggering new heights. A rich, oily texture and layer upon layer of flavor, combined with a paradoxical freshness and perfectly-balanced acidity. Such power, and yet such restraint... truly a white wine to make the French weep. Only 180 bottles allocated to the U.S.
- Color
- Deep golden
- Nose
- Expressive for Rebula, with dried herbs and grass, tropical fruit, hints of caramel and butter
- Palate
- Medium-full body with oily texture - yet simultaneously fresh and nuanced
- Finish
- Long, crisp, and clear-headed
- Vineyard Location
- Goriska Brda, Primorska
- Vineyard Size
- 0.45 ha
- Varietals List
- 100% Rebula
- Farming Practices
- Organically farmed (non-certified) including dry-farmed; grapes picked by hand; vegan
- Elevation
- 157 m
- Soils
- Ponca with clay and sandstone
- Maturation Summary
- Bottled for 6 months
- Alcohol
- 13.0 %
- Acidity
- 5.1 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 1.8 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 1,600 bottles
Fojana Single Cru Sauvignon
Layered on the nose and complex on the palate, this single cru, subalpine Sauvignon displays incredible innovation and typicity all at once. Made from a single acre of 35 year-old vines, this intense, concentrated wine is full of paradox: a ripe, weighty texture underpinned by a clean, tense acidity; an explosion of tropical and stone fruits backed by a clear-headed minerality and a distinct salinity. Get ready to study this wine for days! Less than 300 cases made and 240 bottles allocated to the US.
- Color
- Deep golden yellow
- Nose
- Complex, with gooseberry, white peach, and fresh hay with a hint of orange zest
- Palate
- Medium-full body with ripe fruit, an oily viscosity, and clean, balanced acidity
- Finish
- Long, nuanced, and salty
- Vineyard Location
- Goriska Brda, Primorska
- Vineyard Size
- 0.5 ha
- Varietals List
- 100% Sauvignon Blanc
- Farming Practices
- Organically farmed (non-certified) including dry-farmed; grapes picked by hand; vegan
- Elevation
- 112 m
- Soils
- Ponca with clay
- Maturation Summary
- Bottled for 6 months
- Alcohol
- 14.0 %
- Acidity
- 5 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 1.9 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 1,400 bottles
Kolos Single Cru Cuvee
Rivalling Bordeaux’s highest champions, this flagship wine from Edi Simčič can only be described as transcendent. With each sip, the endless canopy of layers extends itself even further: pine oil, cherry liqueur, bilberry and dried blueberries, tea leaves, liquid smoke, cinnamon stick, fern leaf and a nuanced, dirt road minerality.... the list goes on and on! A tannic masterpiece, Kolos is Slovenian in its purest expression and not, in fact, Bordeaux! Only 3000 bottles made.
- Color
- Deep ruby
- Nose
- Opulent, yet fresh
- Palate
- Full-bodied and elegant, with multiple layers of dark, ripe fruit
- Finish
- Long, complex, and satisfying (increases with age)
- Vineyard Location
- Goriska Brda, Primorska
- Vineyard Size
- 1.5 ha
- Varietals List
-
80% Merlot
10% Cabernet Sauvignon
10% Cabernet Franc - Farming Practices
- Organically farmed (non-certified) including dry-farmed; grapes picked by hand; vegan
- Elevation
- 90 m
- Soils
- Ponca (mineral-rich flysch also found in Friuli)
- Maturation Summary
- In French barrels for 60 months, in Steel 2 months and bottled 6 months
- In Steel
- 2 months
- Alcohol
- 14.0 %
- Acidity
- 5.8 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 1.8 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 3,000 bottles
Kozana Single Cru Chardonnay
This stunning, single-vineyard Chardonnay originates from the Simčič family’s highest altitude site. The wine’s sheer power and delineation reveal their decision to bottle this cru separately. Baffling complexity begins in the nose with hazelnuts, spiced gingerbread, and caramel backing a host of tropical and stone fruits... followed by a voluptuous palate of Meyer lemon, crème brûlée, golden apple, crushed limestone, and toasted almond that finishes with a saline spike. Absolutely glorious! Less than 300 cases made.
- Color
- Deep golden hue
- Nose
- Array of tropical fruit, orange peel, ripe peach, wet stone, and caramel
- Palate
- Opulent, with a supple texture and hidden layers that dance on the tongue
- Finish
- Long and rewarding
- Vineyard Location
- Goriska Brda, Primorska
- Vineyard Size
- 0.5 ha
- Varietals List
- 100% Chardonnay
- Farming Practices
- Organically farmed (non-certified) including dry-farmed; grapes picked by hand; vegan
- Elevation
- 150 m
- Soils
- Ponca (mineral-rich flysch) interspersed with blocks of stone
- Maturation Summary
- Bottled for 6 months
- Alcohol
- 14.5 %
- Acidity
- 5.1 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 1.8 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 1,600 bottles
Kozana Single Cru Sauvignon
SW exposure, rich clay soils, and cooling alpine breezes combine to give us this powerhouse Sauvignon from Slovenian white wine master Aleks Simčič. Located in the hills adjacent to Italy's famed Collio district, the estate specializes in highly concentrated, micro-production wines that escort your taste buds to places you didn't know existed! Thanks to low yields that defy logic, we get deep layers of exotic fruit, stone fruit, and gooseberry that weave on and on for days... just 2400 bottles made with only 10% allocated to the US.
- Color
- Deep golden
- Nose
- Aromatic, with passion fruit, gooseberry, peach and vanilla against a backdrop of wet stone minerality
- Palate
- Opulent texture and multiple layers of powerful fruit - ranging from "typical" to the full-blown exotic
- Finish
- Long and complex, with a warm citrus centerpiece
- Vineyard Location
- Goriska Brda, Primorska
- Vineyard Size
- .65 ha
- Varietals List
- 100% Sauvignon Blanc
- Farming Practices
- Organically farmed (non-certified) including dry-farmed; grapes picked by hand; vegan
- Elevation
- 110 m
- Soils
- Ponca with sandstone and organic mass
- Maturation Summary
- Bottled for 6 months
- Alcohol
- 14.5 %
- Acidity
- 5.25 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 1.6 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 2,400 bottles