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Vinarstvo Erzeti~ Aleksij Erzeti~ Vi{njevik 25 5212 Dobrovo phone/fax: +386 65 45-725 |
In keeping with Slovene tradition, Aleksij Erzeti~'s estate in Vi{njevik is known as "pri Martinovih" ("chez Martin's") after the original owner. Erzeti~ is a typical example of the modern breed of Slovene vignerons: harmonizing the traditional with the modern, he cultivates the old Brda varieties but prepares fresh wines, cooling the must during fermentation in stainless steel vats. Aleksij Erzeti~ believes that red wines deserve oak: his rich red wines are matured in old oak barrels, popular barriques in new.
Erzeti~ owns six hectares of vineyards around Vi{njevik and also cultivates some leased sites. Erzeti~'s [~ojkovec, Podplaz, Strnj, and other locations are among the highest in Brda, around 450 meters (1112 ft.) above sea level. These are rather windy sites and the grapevine does not pollinate optimally, so the yield is rather low - which makes the wines more aromatic.
Erzeti~'s vineyards yield an average of eighty tons of grapes annually, mostly for the traditional Brda white wines: Tokaj, Rebula, Sivi Pinot, Beli Pinot, and Chardonnay. Merlot is the dominant red in Erzeti~'s own vineyards; his Cabernet Sauvignon is grown on leased land. The winery produces five hundred hectoliters (13,210 gallons) of wine annually, 30% in the quality range and the rest high- quality. A total of 30,000 to 50,000 bottles are on offer every year.
Aleksij Erzeti~ is proud of his large collection of medals from wine fairs. So far, his best year was 1991 when his wines won three gold and two silver medals at exhibitions in Ljubljana and Gornja Radgona.
Erzeti~'s Tokaj is always excellent and his Merlot barrique interesting, somewhat lighter than the norm. The Rebula 1989, Merlot 1990 and 1991, Sivi Pinot 1992, and Chardonnay 1993 and 1994 are the pride of the winery.
Ros\' e wine prepared from Merlot is the winery's specialty. This semi-dry wine acquires its gentle bronze-pink colour from the heavily pigmented pulp of Merlot grapes, and the wine is not macerated. Erzeti~'s rosé is light, gentle, and quite noble but not suitable for aging.
