Make sure to try this wine
Steyer, Vaneja, 2011
4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP
Steyer, Vaneja, 2011 (65 EUR when purchasing in the winery; 375 ml) white sweet wine, Radgona-Kapela, Podravje, Slovenia, 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (90 points of 100 points) (07-10-2020 by Nenad Jelisic)
The world's best Gewurztraminer-wines should come from their place of birth and their kingdom, i.e. from Alsace in France, but winery Steyer proves through this wine, and through their Gewurztraminer-ice wines and dry Gewurztraminer-wines, that this is not the case. In 2006, I, the first time, tasted a Gewurztraminer-wine made from dried grapes directly from a 30 litres big oak barrel together with the wine's winemaker Danilo Steyer. Before that, I thought it was impossible to produce a Gewurztraminer-wine made from dried grapes that have a good acidity better to say have a good balance between sweetness and acidity due to that Gewurztraminer-grape is not characterized by any good acidity. Better to say it is very difficult to get Gewurztraminer-grape ripe and at the same time keep its acidity. Not to mention that when the grapes are dried, the sugar content becomes even higher and a balance between sweetness and acidity becomes even more difficult to achieve. But it seems for Danilo there is absolutely no problem to do it. With all the facts I have right now, I claim that the Steyer winery produces the best sweet Gewurztraminer-wines in the whole of Ex-Yugoslavia (nowadays; Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia) and probably in the whole world.
I have tasted Steyer Vaneja 2011 three times and it does not cease to amaze me with its complexity, aroma and flavor richness and very long aftertaste. Very clear aroma of white flowers, honey, dried fruits, orange peel and sweet spices. Very sweet, concentrated and fresh flavour with clear taste of honey, citrus fruits, dried fruits, rose water and sweet spices. Brilliant balance between sweetness and acidity. Enormous development potential, at least 20 years i.e. until at least the year 2040. Note that it is already 9 years old.
Steyer Vaneja 2011 should be enjoyed with grilled goose liver, which is the best combination with the wine, or with fruit salad consisting of orange, white grapes, mango, kiwi and a little of this wine or with tasty moldy cheeses such as Gorgonzola, Roquefort and Stilton or without any food at all, just enjoy its enormous complexity and aroma and flavor richness. It should be drank at 8°C from Riedel Vinum Extreme Rose/Ice wine or Orrefors Difference Sweet or Orrefors Elixir.
The soil of the wine consists of sandy clay, vines are 22 years old and grapes come from vineyards located at an altitude of about 280 meters above sea level in the appellation Radgona-Kapela. The harvest takes place at the end of September by cutting off parts of the vines that have the best wine clusters. The parts are then hung under the roof where they dry for a three-month long period. After drying, the grapes are hand-picked and carefully selected. Then they are pressed very slowly and very gently over a three-day long period. The highly concentrated must is then fermented in old oak barrels from France, which hold 200 to 300 litres, over a three-month long period and a controlled temperature of 12 and 15°C. The aging takes place in the same oak barrels as the fermentation has been done for a period of thirty-six-months and then for another twelve months in a bottle. Only 1,000 0,375 litres bottles were produced from this vintage.
