Marof Bodonci Sauvignon Blanc 2020 Slovenia

The Marof Winery and vineyards can be found in Goricko, right up in the North-East of Slovenia, near the borders with Austria, Croatia and Hungary. This part of Slovenia was first planted to vines over a century ago by the old Hungarian noble family Szapary, but has seen a lot of change. In the 1960s, mostly native American vine varieties were planted, with these vineyards in Mackovci and Bodonci some of the only exceptions. The modern winery was built in 2007, well after Slovenia's initial winemaking boom in the 1980s, but focusing on these excellent vineyard sites and classic Central European grapes which, up to that point, were being sold to local large wineries for bulk wine. Winemaking is decidedly low-intervention and farming is organic. A big, funky, reductive nose is downright savoury, and very complex, with sage, citrus, sesame, jasmine and smoke. Very intense on the palate offering a rush of tropical flavour, very long and satisfying.