ZALATEL FARM spreads over 14 hectares, of which 10 hectares are vineyards. It is located on the southwestern slopes of Brda, in the middle of a hill above the Kožbanjšček stream. The main locations are Jama, Teza, Hrib and Vrh. The predominant soil structure is “opoka” (layers of marl and sandstone), which was formed during the Eocene period, when Brda were still under the sea waters. The presence of the sea is still felt in the wind from the south, whereas at night it is cooled by the wind from the north, with the Alps drawing the horizon. The earth is poor but rich at the same time. With minerals that give the wine a special character. The hilly landscape and the correct inversion of the central axes of the vineyards offer excellent conditions for the growth of many varieties and the production
of wines that are build on freshness, albeit have a slightly stronger body.
of wines that are build on freshness, albeit have a slightly stronger body.
The walls don't speak. At least not as loudly and in a language for everyone to understand them. If we understood them, the homestead of the Zalatels could tell us a lot. About the first owners, who were most probability Friulians, entered in the cadastral books with the surname de Onesti. »Of the honest ones«, the locals would say, to whom a handsome boy from the neighboring hill named Ivan Janez Zalatel came as sonin-law at the beginning of the twentieth century. We would also learn that this part of Hruševlje belonged to Dolenje, today in Italy, back then in the Austro-Hungarian two-headed monarchy. The large market in the heart of Europe enabled good sales of early fruits, as well as wine produced on the farm up to 200 hectoliters per year. Somewhere around that time the slope with the farm took on the nickname Na Čistem, which is still in used to this day.
The desires and plans of honest farmers to produce better and more have been crossed by the turbulent events of the past century. The period of wars, collapses and the birth of states, cooperatives and economic uncertainty ended only with Slovenia’s independence in 1991. Two years later, the Zalatels stepped on the path of independence as well, though they have bottled some Pinot Blanc, Rebula and Chardonnay already in 1991. Today the offer of wines from the Zalatel farm is more extensive, and as the latest novelty and tribute to previous generations, it also includes sparkling wine de Onesti. A toast for all the good we can do and experience! |
White winesThe four white wines of the fresh line are distinguished by the search for varietal specifics, although they are combined by the terroir and the producer's hand. Brda are recognizable in their minerality, fullness of body and predominant fruity notes, while the varietal character is expressed in the details, which give the vine a herbal touch on one hand and a floral touch on the other, which can also be seen in the taste that can evoke ripe fruits, compotes and even jams, or it remains seriously peculiar and above all - wine. The aftertaste of all wines is long, pleasant, but different in variety, so that freshness (in rebula) or perfect maturity (in chardonnay) can be more pronounced. Each is slightly different, none subordinate to the other, convincing with its solo performance, which at the same time invites to get to know the entire quartet of Zalatel's white wines.
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Red winesAnyone who bets on merlot in Brda cannot lose. Cabernet sauvignon is more headstrong, more dependent on the weather conditions and requires us to subdue to its capricious character already in the vineyard. If we agree to play this game, we manage to tame it at least in the wine cellar and at that point it cheers us up. There is more: if we combine both varietal wines and add a little bit of Cabernet Franc, they become a winning trio. We stick to this in our cellar as well and offer two red wines in varietal filling and one blend, which was additionally aged in wooden barrels.
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VINARSTVO ZALATEL
Hruševlje 6 5212 DOBROVO Goriška Brda, Slovenija +386 (0)5 304 25 94 +386 (0)31 629 328 - Valter +386 (0)41 506 581 - Jožica +386 (0)68 650 372 - Kristjan E-mail: [email protected] |