Had this wine last weekend:
1. Skerk Malvazija IGP: Venezia Giulia (13.5%; Oliver McCrumWines) Sandi Skerk/Prepotto/Trieste 2013: Med.orange/burnshed bronze bit cloudy color; strong resiny/phenolic/skin-contact light earthy/dusty/stony some orangey/honeyed quiet muscatty rather complex nose; fairly tart/tangy lightly tannic fairly phenolic/resiny/skin-contact slight honeyed/orangey bit floral/muscatty/graham cracker totally dry bit austere/metallic quite complex flavor w/ light tangy tannins; very long/lingering quiet/muscatty/floral strong phenolic/rsiny/skin-contact honeyed/roangey/graham cracker very complex finish w/ light tannins; a beautiful expression of a skin-contact white that should go another 10 yrs.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. I was introduced to the wines of Sandi Skerk by Oliver McCrum, who imports them. We had a wonderful visit with him about 4 yrs ago in the village of Prepotto in the Kras/Carso just North of Trieste. Sandi makes some of the best wines in the Carso, not far from the border w/ Slovenia. Most of his whites are made w/ skin-contact. He makes a Terano red that is also outstanding. His wnry is just across the street from Zidarich, another favorite Carso producer of mine.
This wine needs to be served at cool room temperature, like most skin-contact whites, so that it is much less tannic & austere on the palate and bring out the fragrant muscatty character.
This is made from the Malvasia d'Istriani grape, a grape that is far more interesting variety than the regular Malvasia Bianca. A grape they should be planting all up & down the Coast of Calif.
Tom