Iglič Haloze 2023

A dry Furmint with its stony-saline origin taking center stage. The nose appears puristic at first, then opens up in multiple directions while remaining straightforward and transparent. 13.5% abv, bone-dry, with tremendous drive.

The Iglič parcel lies within the Gorca single vineyard in Haloze, Štajerska Slovenija. The bedrock is Opok, the marl and limestone typical of the region, which surfaces as bare rock in places. The vineyards sit at 290 to 350 meters above sea level, on slopes with gradients of up to 65%, cultivated entirely by hand. Here, Michael and Maria Gross farm terraces in a landscape where three-quarters of the vineyard area had disappeared over the decades.

Single-varietal Furmint from 15- to 45-year-old vines, whose large-lobed leaves and loose-berried, late-ripening clusters are characteristic of the variety. Harvested on September 29. Following spontaneous fermentation, the wine matured for twelve months in large used wooden casks and subsequently in stainless steel. On July 3, 2025, it was bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with no added sulfur.

Astonishing volume meets an almost minimalist precision. A powerful, crystal-clear acidity drives the wine, accompanied by lemon, immense salinity, and a fine phenolic structure; a delicate suppleness envelops this taut architecture without diminishing its tension. With aeration, the wine gains depth and grip. The long, precise finish unites crushed stone, salt, and citrus.

Furmint is the defining grape variety of Vino Gross, the grape of Michael Gross's grandmother. Planting density is around two thousand vines per hectare, with each vine yielding barely one kilogram of grapes. The crus Gorca, Iglič, Korže, and Colles bear the seal of Slovenska Velika Lega, the Slovenian vineyard classification of which the estate is a founding member.