2020 Edi Simcic Goriska Brda Rebula

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! 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.