Dorcha Carbonic Frankinja 2022
Winery: Dorcha
Classification: Dry red wine
Varietals: 100% Blaufränkisch
Appellation: Ritoznoj, Lower Styria (Štajerska), Slovenia
Density & Yield: 5,000 vines/ha; 2 kg/vine
Annual Production: 5,300 bottles
Alcohol: 11.0%
Climate: Continental, with dry and hot summers, and snowy winters
Terrain: Soils made up of marl, sand and clay to varying degrees. Altitude between 300-400m above sea level.
Farming: No irrigation. No herbicide. Environmentally friendly and sustainable viticulture, with respect for the land.
Vinification: Handpicked. Whole bunches filled directly into tank. Tank filled with carbon dioxide gas and sealed. Pressed off skins after 32 days, last 15% of fermentation finished in tank.
Tasting Notes: The Dorcha labels represent the key natural variables for making minimal intervention wine, with this expression of Frankinja (Blaufrankisch) being an ode to the climate and weather that drives the life of the vine and grapes on any given vintage.
Given its cool climate, Štajerska reds tend to be bright, crunchy and light in body. Inspired by some of the drinkable styles from Beaujolais, Izidor is one of the first in this region to produce Modra Frankinja utilizing carbonic maceration; the result is a very exciting style.
Ruby in color and popping off with aromas of ripe red fruits, white pepper and a subtle rustic quality. The palate is fresh while packed with ripe aromatic strawberry and plum, with well-balanced acidity. A silky midpalate structure opens to pleasing spice, with fun tannins and a tart finish. This is one that Izidor frequently drinks along with his house cured meats and wild foraged mushroom soup.
About
Located in Ritoznoj in Štajerska, Dorcha is the brainchild of Izidor (Dorcha) Vehovar. He is the 3rd generation of his family to continue the path of viticulture and winemaking, and is intent on a new direction, a friendlier path. A farmer without a conventional view of wine production, a winemaker who is following the local tradition of producing pure, vibrant wines. Gaining from some fresh perspective from his relatively-new neighbor in the village (Nick Gee, Heaps Good Wine Co.), he is now adding to his family's tradition by making exciting wines and made naturally with a modern twist.
Izidor is a passionate but humble winemaker in the village of Ritoznoj. He keeps to himself and is often found wandering the wooded mountains of Pohorje, embracing nature and foraging for local mushrooms (a local specialty in NE Slovenia), or in his cellar processing and aging his own salumi and cured meats.
In the vineyards, from 22 ha of vines, the family produces 6,000 cases of wine. The drive is to do as much as possible to make great wine, starting in the vineyard, as everything good comes from the vineyard. Farming is done with the greatest respect for the land, with entirely sustainable viticulture, and all under Slovenia’s strict integrative farming requirements, with no use of pesticides or herbicides in the vineyards.
He farms mostly indigenous and typical varietals of the Štajerska region – plenty of Traminer, Gelber Muskateller, Laški Riesling, Sylvaner, Modra Frankinja (Blaufrankisch), and lastly a strong holding of exceptional Sauvignon Blanc vineyards; Coming from Styria (Štajerska, Steiermark), this region is creating some of the most exciting expressions of the varietal in the world today, and Dorcha’s Sauvignon is no exception!
‟It starts at the ground, in the vineyard. When you step into a vineyard, approach the vine, touch it, kneel down, and touch the ground, you can feel it. You have to have that in your blood and heart. As the vine grows, you grow up with it and with the earth under your nails. You smell grapes in the air that you breathe. The wine we produce is not classic, but has a unique character and taste...and most importantly, it has an energy.”
The wine cellar is only to make the finishing touches - without manipulation and without too much intervention. Here you can see the energy of the wine and the energy of the winegrower who has revitalized a local family tradition.