Marjan Simcic Opoka Cru Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (750ml) *

Sauvignon Blanc takes on a different accent in Goriška Brda, the hillside region on Slovenia's border with Italy, where Marjan Simcic works. The Opoka Cru bottling is a serious, single-site expression of the grape, and the 2022 is dry, texturally driven, and built more for the table than for easy aperitif sipping.

There is a prettiness to it that pulls you in: lemon oil, fresh mint, and a whisper of sage over green apple. It moves across the palate with a silken, refined feel, tart orchard fruit and a light mineral touch carried on bright acidity. The finish runs long and citrus-driven, closing on a chalky note and a tang of sour melon that keeps drawing you back to the glass.