Kabaj Beli Pinot 2019

Beli Pinot — Pinot Blanc — from Goriska Brda, Slovenia’s most important wine region, which sits directly across the border from Italy’s Collio zone. The two regions share the same landscape, the same soils, and much of the same cultural heritage. What Kabaj does with Pinot Blanc here is characteristic of the best Brda producers: skin contact to add texture and complexity, extended lees aging to build depth, and a commitment to making something genuinely specific rather than generically pleasant.

Winemaking

Two weeks on skins in old casks, then one year on lees in neutral French oak. The result is a wine of unusual complexity: the skin contact adds grip and aromatic depth; the lees aging adds a creamy, oily texture that is entirely different from what Pinot Blanc normally produces.

Tasting Notes

Medium-bodied and dry. Nutty and fruity on the nose: orange, ripe pineapple, peach, apricot, red apple. Hints of hay, vanilla, chamomile, and honey from the lees aging. Slightly savory on the palate with medium acidity, an oily texture, and a round, creamy finish. A wine that rewards attention.

How to Serve

Serve at 12–14°C. Open 20 minutes before serving. Works beautifully as both an aperitif and a wine for food.

Food Pairing

Aged soft cheese, roast pork, fish with cream sauce, risotto, roast chicken. The oily texture and nutty complexity handle rich, creamy dishes with ease.