Sanctum Medved Chardonnay
Winery: Sanctum
Classification: Dry white wine
Varietals: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: Lipoglav, Lower Styria (Štajerska), Slovenia
Density & Yield: 4,000 vines/ha; 1.5 kg/vine
Annual Production: 10,000 bottles
Alcohol: 12.5%
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: Starting with 2018 vintage Sanctum Chardonnay is different from its predecessors. Embracing the minimal intervention approach in the cellar, hand-harvested grapes were whole bunch pressed and spontaneously fermented in Slovenian and French oak barrels. After 12 months of barrel aging the wine was blended in stainless steel tanks and bottled unfiltered.
Tasting Notes: Chardonnay has been cultivated on these hills since the French monks planted it in the 12th century. They thought this land was special for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The new Sanctum Medved Chardonnay is made with a hand-off approach in order to express the fruit and the terroir of Lipoglav vineyards in the glass. The wine is rich but lean at the same time, the fruit is enticing but gentle, with a faint and pleasant reductive smokiness. The palate is chalky and mineral with alcohol and acidity balanced perfectly.
Great with soups, especially the traditional Jota soup with cabbage and pork, roasted chicken, mushrooms, grilled vegetables, shrimp, salmon or trout.
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.
