2005 Simon Komjanc Vino' 900, Bottle #87

One of the last of the bottles I brought back from my trip to Friuli last fall, this is from San Floriano del Collio. Although the wine is called 900, only 200 bottles of this are made. Instead, the name is sort of a reference to the "old ways"... Novecento literally is 900, but is also a word for describing the 1900's. The family has a bit of an artistic streak, with their tasting room also functioning as a little gallery. I'm hoping this bottling isn't a reference to the Fascist art movement of the same name!


Unfiltered, unstabilised (I take that to mean no sulphur). Handmade (or footmade, as the grapes are crushed by these two... unclear if these are Komjanc's granddaughters or not.... they didn't speak a lick of English on premises, and actually it was the son Evgen, who pulled up on his tractor and let us in.) A blend of tocai friulano and ribolla gialla. A coppery yellow, but crystal clear colour. Nose of flowers, with a particular jasmine touch, with honey and petrichor notes. For me, quite a prominent sandalwood tone, with lemon, pine (calls to mind retsina, but very subtly), good acidity, medium+ weight, incense and bitters on the finish. There's a the very slightest touch of oak on the back end as this comes to room temperature, but absolutely nothing overt. Verry nice.