Pasji Rep Pinot Noir
Winery: Pasij Rep
Classification: Dry red wine
Varietals: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellation: Pasji rep, Vipava Valley, Slovenia
Analytical Data: Alc 14%, total acidity 6.00g/L, residual sugar 1.8g/L
Climate: The Vipava Valley’s position on the border of a Mediterranean climate, which comes through the valley from the west, and a continental climate behind the plateau, Nanos, on northeast side, gives the wines their distinctive aromatics and minerality. Pasji Rep is a sub-region with the highest concentration of valleys and streams that allow for one of the coolest climates in the valley and deliver exceptional finesse and elegance in their wines.
Terrain: Vipava Valley is right on the border of Slovenia, just north of the Italian port city of Trieste. The area is made up of steep hills, where the continental climate of the Alps collides with the more moderate mild Mediterranean climate from the Adriatic. Vineyards are located on steep valleys where the temperature is cooler and the soil contains flysch and mineral-rich marl.
Farming: Certified Organic/ Biodynamic
Vinification: The grapes come from vineyards Brajda and Kunovec ranging from 200-280 m of altitude on deeper flysch soil. These two vineyard sites offer distinctly different expressions of Pinot and provide a beautiful balance in the wines – the higher elevation vineyards are steeper sloped and have looser, flysch soil while the lower valley vineyards provide a plethora of compact top soil that has slid down the hills from landslide.
Each vineyard is vinified and aged separately, 10% whole cluster. Hand-picked at full ripeness in the beginning of September (10th and 11th), grapes are cooled and destemmed to stainless steel tank. After 2 days of cold soak, pied de cuve is added to start the fermentation. Punch down and remontage are applied during fermentation which lasted for 18 days. After gentle pressing, the wine is racked into small neutral burgundy barrels (10% new) where it ages on fine lees for 18 months. Before bottling wine from both vineyards is blended and a small amount of sulfur is added.
Tasting Notes: An exciting nose that opens with dark raspberry, developing with black currant, clove and bay leaf. The palate delivers vivacity through bright red fruits, dark cherry, chalky minerality and a touch of smoke. An insanely elegant and balanced structure that is all sorts of thought provoking.
Winery Information
Pasji Rep
Pasji rep (translated to “Dog’s tail” because of the valley’s unique shape and the stream that runs through it) is one of the oldest vineyard areas in the historic Vipava Valley region, in southwestern Slovenia, bordering Italy. It’s first mention as a vineyard site all the way back to land registry’s in 1476, and the Pasji rep vineyards are hailed as one of the best vineyard sites in Europe, documented in the famous book The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola (1689) by polymath, Johann Weikhard von Valvasor - considered to be one of the most important works in Slovenia.