Sanctum Bubamara
Winery: Sanctum
Classification: Dry red wine
Varietals: 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Syrah
Appellation: Lipoglav, Lower Styria (Štajerska), Slovenia
Density & Yield: 4,000 vines/ha; 1.5 kg/vine
Annual Production: 5,000 bottles
Alcohol: 13%
Climate: Continental cool climate, with snowy and cold winters, and sunny and mild spring, with sun-drenching summers.
Terrain: Continental micro-climate on the steep hills and valleys of Lipoglav, located by the beautiful town of Loče in northeast Slovenia. All vineyards are located on steep 45˚ slopes with southern-exposure, ranging from 100 meters to 480 meters above sea level. Nights are refreshingly chilly, as the winds whip around the sharp hills and valleys. The soil made up of marl, clay and sand.
Farming: No irrigation. No herbicide. Environmentally friendly and sustainable viticulture, with respect for the land.
Vinification: Each variety is picked and processed separately. Embracing the minimal intervention approach in the cellar, hand-harvested grapes were destemmed and spontaneously fermented in open top fermenters. 19-24 day maceration. After 12 months of aging in used French oak the wine was blended in stainless steel tanks and bottled unfiltered.
Tasting Notes: This single vineyard Hiša (house) red is a barrel selection of pinot noir with a small addition of cool climate syrah. Made with a hands-off approach in order to express the fruit and the terroir of the vineyard in the glass. The wine shows a dusty cranberry nose with vegetal notes typical of Štajerska pinot noir, and the syrah adds a touch of black and white pepper. The mouthfeel is earthy and a bit chalky, elegance and inviting drinkability are revealed when this medium-body wine is paired with food.
Enjoy with stews, goulashes, sausages, roasted red meats, pulled pork, and broth boiled beef with an assortment of vegetables like onions, carrots, tomatoes, leeks, potatoes, celery, and cauliflower.
Winery Information
Sanctum
The Podkubovšek family, starting with Vlado and his son, Marko, has always cherished and been proud of this local heritage, hence the fact that all of their wines are made in a traditional style.