Colles Haloze 2023

A dry Sauvignon Blanc with 13.5% abv, where origin and structure clearly take precedence over varietal aromatics. On the nose, apple and apple peel, quince, and green papaya, accompanied by chamomile, fennel fronds, chalk, and a fine touch of smoke. Austere and cool, yet never harsh, it gains depth and spice with aeration.

The Colles parcel lies within the steep Gorca single vineyard, where Michael and Maria Gross cultivate by hand the terraces carved into the slopes during the Tito era. The subsoil is Opok, the calcareous marl typical of the Haloze region containing one-quarter to one-third limestone. The vines stand at 290 to 330 metres of altitude on slopes with gradients of up to 65%; planting density is around two thousand vines per hectare, with each vine yielding barely a kilogram of grapes.

The 16-year-old Sauvignon Blanc vines yield small, compact bunches; harvesting took place on 18 September. Following spontaneous fermentation, the wine matured for twelve months in large, used wooden casks and subsequently in stainless steel. On 3 July 2025, it was bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with no added sulphur.

Juicy and firm, with brilliantly integrated, lively acidity. Green tea, garden herbs, and tart citrus notes meet damp undergrowth, smoke, and a pronounced chalky minerality. A subtle yeasty note and a touch of tannin provide texture and grip; the long finish lingers with herbs, smoke, and a saline tension.

Colles is among the crus bearing the seal of Slovenska Velika Lega, Slovenia's single-vineyard classification of which Vino Gross is a founding member. Around seventy percent of the estate's wines are bottled entirely without added sulphur.