We’ve never been afraid to swim outside the mainstream. We just realize when we do, the wines have to be a little more than just a cut above. This is actually our first go-round with Vigne del Malina Sauvignon but we have had their wines before. Aged Sauvignon Blanc is an oddity in most parts of the world, but in northeastern Italy and Slovenia it’s practiced by a few talented producers.
We’ll start by saying that the Vigne del Malina Sauvignon Blanc 2013 is the current release. These folks lke to put some tank and bottle age their Sauvignon Blanc in their own cellars until they deem it ready. The immediate concern would be that Sauvignon would sacrifice some of its freshness to achieve the nuance developed with aging but there is more than enough lift here to pull it off beautifully. Sauvignon Blanc from this part of the world has its own, rather unique profile.
Aromas of tomato leaf, a certain florality to the citrus aspects of lime and grapefruit and a less aggressive ‘Sauvignon’ demeanor in general is sort of the thread running through a lot of the best efforts from around these parts (Friuli, Alto Adige, etc.). The bottle time tones down the sometimes sharp edges this varietal can have and highlights more the mineral elements in these alluvial gravels.
Fermatation is done in open vats with some maceration of grape skins and frequent punch-downs. Malolactic fermentation and aging is done in older oak barrels for one year, then it sits reclined in bottles for fifteen months at a constant temperature.
The result is a very elegant and stylish approach to Sauvignon Blanc that one could compare to some of the more avant garde Slovenian practitioners, but this bottling comes off a little fresher and more to our taste. Stylistically a little off the beaten path, but in a good way.