A Year Full of Challenges for winegrowers in Goriška brda
This year was again full of challenges for winegrowers. The year started with heavy rains, followed by a warm spring. Just as the vines began budding, temperatures twice dropped below freezing, with frost on April 21st wiping out crops in the lower-lying vineyards. The weather was also wet and cold during the flowering period, when the vines are most vulnerable. Consequently, pollination was poor, which further contributed to the reduction in yield.
Although the yield was lower, the quality of the grapes is excellent.
High temperatures and humidity created ideal conditions for disease development, making vine protection a major challenge. Local hailstorms in July, followed by drought and temperatures exceeding 24°C in August, also took their toll. All of this resulted in the lowest yield in the past 30 years. Vineyards across Slovenia are facing significantly smaller harvests this year.
Climate change and extreme weather events have become the new reality, which winegrowers and winemakers have been confronting for several years. The vines are resilient, and winegrowers, in collaboration with experts, are finding effective ways to adapt to these challenges. Once again, it has been proven that winegrowers who closely follow the advice of the Klet Brda advisory service and adapt their vineyard practices based on recommendations from winter workshops, experience less yield loss.
QUANTITY AND QUALITY
The vineyard families of Klet Brda produced more than 40% less than expected and about one-third less than the average of the past three years. The smaller yield was caused by spring frost, unfavorable weather during flowering, July hail, drought, and high temperatures.
The smaller crop and dry weather during ripening resulted in excellent grape quality. Virtually the entire harvest meets the highest quality standards.
Among the varieties, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignonasse stand out, both showing pronounced varietal aromas. It is worth noting that Pinot Grigio from the 2023 vintage already stood out with its freshness and intense aromatics. This quality was carefully nurtured by the oenologists and cellar masters, and as a result, the 2023 Quercus Pinot Grigio earned 95 points at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2024, winning one of five Slovenian gold medals.
Despite the extreme weather conditions, Rebula once again proved its dominance in Brda by yielding the best results.
Klet Brda also has high hopes for the red varieties, which, thanks to smaller berries, achieved perfect tannin ripeness, high sugar levels, deep color, and distinctive varietal aromas.
HARVESTING PROCESS
This year, the harvest for base wines for sparkling wines began as early as August 20, the earliest in recent years, and the regular 2024 harvest officially started on August 23rd and concluded on September 19th with the picking of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Grape picking started at dawn, as working past 11 a.m. was impossible due to high temperatures. Klet Brda adjusted its grape reception schedule accordingly.
PRICES
Compared to last year, grape purchase prices will be higher this year.
For the standard program, the average purchase price per kilogram of grapes will be just over €0.90, while for premium programs and selected wines, the price will be at least €1.20. Grapes from the best, specially selected locations that show unique vineyard characteristics in addition to general parameters will be priced at €2.50 and above.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION REMAINS A GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR THE FUTURE
Sustainable production remains the main guiding principle at Klet Brda. The established system for predicting diseases and pests, along with effective communication between the advisory service and winegrowers, ensures reduced losses and high-quality grapes. Klet Brda will continue organizing winter workshops where winegrowers, in collaboration with experts, seek solutions to the ever-growing challenges of climate change. Key elements include proper soil preparation with the addition of humus, selecting drought-resistant rootstocks, soil cultivation aimed at preserving winter moisture, and training systems adapted to dry and hot summers.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of membership in the world sommelier organization ASI, The association for the development of drinking culture SOMMELIER SLOVENIA held a special celebratory event at Zemono Manor. The guest of honor of this event was the world’s best sommelier, the Latvian Raimonds Tomsons, who also visited the boutique cellar de Baguer, where they tasted the wines that mature in the castle cellar. Among the presented wines, Tomsons was most impressed by the Motnik Single Vineyard Rebula.
Raimonds Tomsons hails from Latvia and has been intensely involved in the sommelier profession for two decades. Despite coming from a distinctly non-wine-producing country, he has achieved remarkable results during this time: he has been a multiple national champion, champion of the Baltic States, the best sommelier of Europe and Africa, took third place at the 2019 world championship, and at last year’s world competition, he won the title of world champion.
The world sommelier champion was introduced to the characteristics of the Brda terroir, which gives a unique character to the wines from Goriška Brda, by oenologist Luka Ribolica and head of sales for HoReCa, Damjan Resnik. During the tasting, special attention was given to the Rebula variety, which with its freshness and minerality, best represents the Brda region.
Rebula particularly intrigued Mr. Tomsons, which he also emphasized in an interview with the journalist from the show Svet on Kanal A. You can watch the full interview at this link: https://www.24ur.com/video/iz-sveta-najboljsi-somelje-na-svetu_63258157.html
This year, at 21st Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), all the wines sent by Klet Brda to the aforementioned international evaluation received a medal. Gold medals and a score of 95 points were awarded this time to two white wines – Motnik Single vineyard rebula vintage 2017 from the prestigious de Baguer line and Pinot Grigio Quercus vintage 2023, which is also the only Slovenian wine to receive the Top Value Gold designation. The number of medals received once again confirms the consistent quality of the wines from Klet Brda, which is based on the principle that top quality starts in the vineyard.
Klet Brda submitted 19 wines for evaluation this year, of which 2 received a gold medal, 9 a silver medal, and 8 received a bronze medal, which is an excellent result that Klet Brda is very happy about.
The Decanter World Wine Awards is the most prestigious and at the same time the largest wine evaluation in the world due to its strict rules, the high professionalism of the commission and the reputation of the magazine of the same name, which organizes and promotes the evaluation. This year, the wines in London were evaluated by 243 international wine experts from all over the world, of whom 61 hold the title of Master of Wine, and 20 hold the title of Master Sommelier. They tasted and evaluated 18,143 wines from 57 countries. Thanks to its exceptional breadth of samples and pool of judges, the DWWA results provide one of the most comprehensive and authoritative sources of recommendations for wine lovers worldwide.
With a large collection of medals, Klet Brda winery has repeatedly put itself on the map as the most successful Slovenian winery, guided by sustainable production and consistent quality, both for wines in the middle and higher price ranges of the Quercus, Krasno and Bagueri Superior brands, as well as for wines in the highest category from the boutique winery de Baguer. Achievements in this prestigious international evaluation, where samples of wines from all over the world are evaluated, represent an effective support for sales in the global wine market, where, in addition to self-evident quality, consistency is most important.
The Quercus line consists of wines of a modern style, the main characteristics of which are an intense fruity aroma, freshness and fullness of taste. The consistent quality results in the excellent ratings that the wines from this line receive over the years at both international and domestic evaluations. Wines from this line are widely available to all lovers of premium wines, which can be found in all well-stocked stores.
In the 2023 vintage, Quercus Pinot Grigio stands out in particular – a superb fresh wine of a straw yellow color with a gentle pink hue. Its aroma is reminiscent of fresh grapefruit, peach, apricot, pineapple and cinnamon. The wine leaves a delicate taste in the mouth, which is medium-bodied and pleasantly warm. The finish is accompanied by a silky feel and citrus aroma. Quercus Pinot Grigio received an extraordinary 95 points at this year’s Decanter and won the gold medal. In addition, it is also included in the special category “Top Value Golds” – the top recipients of gold medals whose selling price does not exceed £15.
From the boutique winery de Baguer comes Rebula Motnik Single vineyard, a unique orange wine in which the tradition and the modern knowledge and interpretation of one of the most penetrating Slovenian oenologists, Darinko Ribolica, and the head cellarman of Klet Brda, Igor Skubin, are interwoven. Due to a special process that includes a ten-month maceration, the wine has a characteristic deep golden color, it is characterized by a rich body and at the same time the freshness characteristic of rebula, and the whole thing is rounded off by a hint of herbal aroma. The grapes for Motnik Single vineyard rebula come from a single vineyard called Lisičk, located in the village of Neblo. The terraced vineyard, planted with the native Rebula variety, grows on a classic opoka (ponca) and has been nurtured for decades according to the principles of sustainable production, which are faithfully followed in Klet Brda. Excellence is also being sought in the segment of orange wines. Only 4 wines reached the very top, a platinum medal for Italian wine, two gold medals for Georgian wine and a gold medal for Motnik Single vineyard rebula from Slovenia.
Our awarded wines:
– Single vineyard Motnik rebula 2017 – gold medal (95 points)
– Pinot Grigio Quercus 2023 – gold medal (95 points)
– A plus red 2018 – silver medal
– A plus white 2018 – silver medal
– De Baguer chardonnay – sauvignon blanc 2019 – silver medal
– De Baguer merlot-cabernet franc 2018 – silver medal
– Bagueri chardonnay 2019 – silver medal
– Bagueri rebula 2020 – silver medal
– Krasno rebula 2022 – silver medal
– Quercus cabernet-merlot 2022 – silver medal
– Bagueri merlot 2019 – bronz medal
– Krasno white 2023 – bronz medal
– Krasno red 2022 – bronz medal
– Quercus rebula 2023 – bronz medal
– Quercus chardonnay 2023 – bronz medal
– Quercus Selection red cuvee 2022 – bronz medal
– Selection chardonnay-beli pinot 2023 – bronz medal
– Sparkling rebula 2023 – silver medal
– Sparkling rose 2023 – bronz medal
At the beginning of 2024, a renowned wine critic and the best sommelier in the world in 2018, Eros Teboni, visited Goriška brda. Teboni, who comes from South Tyrol and has been involved in the world of wine since childhood, runs the online portal “The Wine Journal”, where he regularly publishes articles and wine reviews. In doing so, he focuses not only on the most famous wine regions and producers, but also writes about undiscovered pearls of the wine world. The goal of his work is to impart knowledge about the world of wine in an innovative way, and above all to expand the horizons of his loyal followers.
During his visit to Brda and the organized blind tasting, he tasted and evaluated the wines of nine winemakers from Brda, and published the evaluations on his web portal under the heading “Speciale Brda 2024”.
Klet Brda presented itself with five wines from the Krasno and Bagueri Superior lines, which received excellent reviews. Pinot Noir Krasno 2020 scored an enviable 94+/100 points, Chardonnay Bagueri 2019 scored 94/100 points, Merlot Bagueri 2019 93/100 points, Rebula Krasno 2021 was awarded with 91/100 points, while Rebula Bagueri 2020 received 90/100 points.
We are happy that our wines received high marks at the evaluation, which shows that with a professional approach, respect for tradition and, last but not least, innovative views on wine production, we offer wine enthusiasts wines of the highest quality.
The gastronomic line of Krasno wines includes fresh and fruity-smelling wines that go perfectly with various dishes. In them you will taste all the characteristics of an exceptional wine region. It is also a beautiful tribute to the village of the same name located higher up in Brda, where the vineyards are particularly steep and produce magnificent wines.
The collection of prestigious wines with a 30-year tradition, BAGUERI Superior, includes unique, wood-matured still wines of the super premium segment, which move milestones in the production of structured wines. In them, we feel both the personal note of the oenologist as well as the specifics of the individual year and the exceptional growing area. We grow them with great care, in old vineyards, in the best locations in Brda.
In January, for the eleventh consecutive year, one of the largest international wine competitions in Asia took place – the “Sakura” Japan Women’s Wine Awards in Japan. The word “sakura” in Japanese means cherry blossom and symbolizes the femininity that gives the evaluation a special touch.
The uniqueness of the evaluation lies in the jury itself, as the submitted wines are exclusively judged by female wine specialists, including sommeliers, winemakers, educators in wine schools, journalists, restaurant managers, wine buyers, importers, and distributors. A medal from the Sakura evaluation on wine bottles is a sign of good wine in Japanese stores, chosen by Japanese judges, and as a result, each year sees a greater number of winemakers and wine samples participating in the evaluation.
Klet Brda submitted six wines for evaluation, all of which received excellent ratings. Quercus Merlot 2021 and Sparkling Rebula 2022 received double gold medals, Villa Brici Rebula 2022 and Quercus Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 received gold medals, while Villa Brici Merlot 2021 and Villa Brici Merlot – Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 received silver medals.
The Japanese market is one of the most important for Klet Brda, as we sell a whole shipping container of our wines there monthly. The medals we receive each year at international competitions play an important role in promoting individual wines and the winery itself. The medals we received for our wines at the “Sakura” Women’s Wine Awards are even more significant, as they have a significant impact on sales and popularity among Japanese consumers, and also represent a special recognition for our distributor, the Japanese company Belluna, with whom we have been collaborating for 19 years.
This year has proven to be a challenging one for grape growers.
A cold spring transitioned into a rainy summer and autumn, sparing no mercy for vineyard owners, with even a July hailstorm wreaking havoc. The wet summer presented a serious challenge, even for experienced vineyard owners, as they battled downy and powdery mildew. Our this year’s yield is roughly a quarter lower than the usual expectations.
In such an extreme year, our winery, committed to sustainable winegrowing practices, demonstrated a well-structured system for predicting and promptly addressing disease outbreaks, reducing losses, and ensuring quality. Vineyard owners who diligently followed our advisory service guidelines had fewer issues protecting their vineyards. This year, significant differences in grape quality were observed depending on the vineyard’s location. Excellent vineyard sites experienced fewer phyto pathological problems, resulting in higher-quality yields.
QUANTITIES AND QUALITY
This year, our winegrowing families will collectively produce 5,900 tons of grapes, a quarter less than the average annual yield of 8,000 tons. The drop in yield can be attributed to unfavourable weather during flowering, frequent rain, and related disease occurrences. Of course, the most significant loss came from the hailstorm that hit the entire Brda region on the evening of July 24th.
The wines of the 2023 vintage will have lower alcohol content, medium body, a mineral character, and emphasized freshness. A complete assessment, however, will have to await St. Martin’s Day. Among the grape varieties, Rebula once again demonstrated its resilience even in challenging years. Producers and oenologists highlight how well Brda’s Rebula adapts to climate changes. Despite less favourable weather conditions, Rebula had a smaller yield, but the quality remained excellent. The Pinot Grigio variety also stands out, with a lower yield but preserved freshness and typical varietal aromatics.
HARVEST PROGRESS & PRICES
HARVEST PROGRESS
Our members began harvesting base wines for sparkling wines on September 1, 2023, and the official regular harvest for 2023 commenced on September 7, 2023, with completion expected in the first week of October, concluding with the harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
This year harvesting has been more demanding due to selective picking. It was necessary to remove hail-damaged grapes, which takes considerable time and requires more labour compared to a typical harvest. The quality concept deeply ingrained in the cooperative has been embraced by vineyard owners, who dedicated a significant amount of time to grape selection in the vineyards.
PRICES
Compared to last year, this year’s purchase prices for grapes will be higher, with a greater distinction between standard and premium quality. The average purchase price for a kilogram of grapes in the standard program will be around €0.75, while for premium programs and selections, the average price will be at least €1. The price range for a kilogram of grapes will vary between €0.42 and €1.65. Grapes from the best vineyard sites, showcasing special vineyard characteristics, may reach €2 or more per kilogram.
THIS YEAR’S AWARDS REAFFIRM CONSISTENT QUALITY
At Klet Brda we offer a diverse range of wines designed with the end consumer in mind – top-quality yet accessible wines for various tastes and occasions, all characterized by unwavering excellence, from the vineyard to the customer. Our commitment is further validated by this year’s numerous medals and exceptional achievements at international competitions. We have received a total of 62 gold, silver, and bronze awards at international competitions. Particularly noteworthy are the 95 points and gold medals awarded at the 20th anniversary Decanter World Wine Awards in the UK, which are the highest accolades received by Slovenian winemakers. At the Chardonnay du Monde competition in France, the Quercus 2022 Chardonnay received a gold medal and ranked among the top 10 Chardonnays in the world. In the domestic Vino Slovenija competition in Gornja Radgona, the Bagueri brut classic sparkling wine was awarded a great gold medal. We were also delighted with excellent ratings bestowed by one of the world’s most respected wine critics, James Suckling, who awarded 94 points to the Rebula de Baguer single vineyard Motnik 2017, while the A plus red 2017 and de Baguer Merlot-Cabernet Franc 2017 received 93 points each, and the de Baguer Chardonnay-Sauvignon Blanc 2017 received 92 points.
ANA BUCIK – AMBASSADOR FOR RESPONSIBLE WINE ENJOYMENT
We are pleased to announce our collaboration with Slovenian alpine skier Ana Bucik, as we share common values of hard work, perseverance, dedication, and a commitment to our territory. Ana Bucik, an accomplished athlete who also prioritizes moderation in her private life, has become an ambassador for Klet Brda. Our shared motto is to work hard and enjoy in moderation. Klet Brda aims to promote this message as a socially responsible company, spreading it among the public. This collaboration represents a mutual opportunity, emphasizing an active lifestyle and responsible wine enjoyment, especially among young people, for whom Ana serves as a role model and inspiration.
On Friday, August 11th, internationally renowned wine critic James Suckling, considered one of the most influential wine critics in the world, visited the Brda region.
During his visit to Brda, he tasted wines from several producers from Brda. He wrote on Facebook about his experience, stating that in Brda he tasted many excellent wines that are rich, intense, and with great depth, reflecting the heroic viticulture on the steep slopes of Brda.
The famous American wine critic, James Suckling, was presented with a selection of wines from the de Baguer cellar. He recently published ratings of our wines on his website JamesSuckling.com. He was particularly impressed by rebula de Baguer single vineyard motnik 2017, which he awarded an impressive 94 out of 100 points, as well as the A plus red 2017 and de Baguer merlot-cabernet franc 2017, both receiving 93 points. In addition to these wines, he also tasted the de Baguer chardonnay-sauvignon blanc 2017 blend, which received an excellent score of 92 points.
All four highly-rated wines mature in the exclusive de Baguer cellar, where Klet Brda keeps its best wines. Wines from the de Baguer cellar are known for their maturity, structural richness, and exceptional elegance, which impress both experts at international competitions and wine connoisseurs. Production is limited to the best vintages in limited series.
The grapes for rebula de Baguer single vineyard motnik 2017, which received the highest score of 94 points, come from the Lisičk vineyard, located on a steep slope above the Brda village of Neblo. This terraced vineyard, growing on classic marlstone, has been cultivated sustainably for a decade. Single vineyard Motnik is a unique rebula with a completely different character from our other wines. Due to a ten-month maceration, the wine falls into the category of orange wines, but the production process was carefully managed to give the wine an intense golden color. The wine embodies the tradition of ancient winemaking and the modern knowledge and interpretation of one of Slovenia’s most promising winemakers, Darinko Ribolica.
James Suckling is one of the world’s leading wine critics. His ratings are read and appreciated by wine enthusiasts, serious wine collectors, and wine buyers from around the world. He is the president and editor-in-chief of the website jamessuckling.com, based in Hong Kong. Since the start of his career, he has rated over 250,000 wines. He has 339,000 followers on Instagram and organizes 20 wine events around the world each year.
During his recent visit, he suggested that we send him some additional wines for him to evaluate. The fact that our wines have sparked his interest and received impressive ratings demonstrates that they are of exceptional quality and reflect the terroir of Brda, which we proudly represent as representatives of the region.
De Baguer Single vineyard Motnik Lisićk 2017
Score: 94 Points
11 Aug, 2023 – Minerally and flinty with sliced lemon, white pepper and cloves. Medium-bodied with firm and phenolic tannins and a flavorful finish. Plenty going on here. A single vineyard wine from the cooperative of Brda that represents 50% of the production. Serious. Wow. Drink now.
De Baguer A Plus 2017
Score: 93 Points
Typical tobacco, olive and smoke characters with cassis and berries. Fine line between fineness and some fresh leafiness. Medium body with soft tannins that last and grow on the palate. Very refined and polished. A blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. Drink now.
De Baguer Merlot Cabernet Franc 2017
Score: 93 Points
11 Aug, 2023 – This is spiced and dark-fruited with chocolate, licorice and bark undertones. Some dried flowers, too. Full-bodied with a richness and opulence to the fruit and velvety tannins. It’s wide and generous with a persistent, lingering finish. A touch too much wood, but there is pretty fruit underneath. Drink now.
De Baguer Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Score: 92 Points
11 Aug, 2023 – Ripe golden berries, some oatmeal, fine lees and some peaches. Creamy and fresh on the palate with medium acidity and a nicely phenolic finish. A blend of 70% chardonnay and 30% sauvignon blanc. Drink now.
HARVEST 2023
The grape harvest of the 2023 vintage at Klet Brda is officially starting this week.
On Friday, September 1, our wine-growing families began picking grapes for the base wines used in sparkling wines. Due to the consequences of the July hailstorm, we anticipate a smaller yield this year. Our wine-growing families are expected to deliver approximately 6,500 tons of grapes to the cellar. We anticipate a promising year for white varieties, while the quality of red varieties will be significantly influenced by the weather in the coming month. Grape prices will be higher, but the exact increase depends on the quality, which is still subject to the weather during the harvest.
For vine growers, this year’s season has been full of challenges. The cold spring delayed bud break and shoot development, and young shoots were exposed to various pests for an extended period. Summer also brought frequent rain, making protection against downy and powdery mildew demanding. This year, our early detection and infection monitoring system, which we have been developing for years, proved highly effective, enabling us to promptly inform vine growers about when and how to protect the grapevines from diseases. Vine growers who carefully followed the advice of our advisory service experienced less crop loss and significantly higher-quality yields.
In such a demanding year, differences in vineyard locations become evident, as areas with excellent vineyard sites had fewer phytopathological issues. In July, Brda was also hit by hail, resulting in a quarter of the crop being lost. Consequently, this year’s harvest will be more challenging as damaged grapes from the hail will need to be sorted, consuming a lot of time and requiring more pickers than during a typical harvest.
We began harvesting grapes for the base wines used in sparkling wines, produced from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, on Friday, September 1, 2023, and continued with Rebula for sparkling wines during the weekend. The regular harvest is expected to start this Thursday. The majority of the harvest will be completed by the end of September, while Cabernets and some special varieties will remain in the vineyards until mid-October.
Visits from business partners represent one of the most important marketing tools for Klet Brda, which is export-oriented. The reality experienced by Brda vine growers, who work on steep slopes, is often hard for foreigners to imagine. Only when they experience the harvest firsthand and feel the pulse of the local people can they truly understand the wines. We are currently hosting distributors from the USA, and this visit will be followed by visits from importers from Italy, China, Brazil, and Serbia.
During the harvest, we hope for dry and moderately warm weather. We wish you a pleasant September!
At this year’s jubilee 20th Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), two of the red wines from the de Baguer wine cellar, known for producing the best wines of the Klet Brda winery, received a score of 95 points and a GOLD MEDAL. Klet Brda was awarded gold for two of our red blends – A Plus Red 2017 and de Baguer Merlot-Cabernet Franc 2017, obtaining the best result among Slovenian winemakers and reaffirming the consistent quality of our wines.
For this year’s assessment, Klet Brda entered 16 wines, of which 2 received a gold medal, 7 were awarded a silver medal, and 7 a bronze medal – an impressive feat, which we were delighted to achieve.
Thanks to its strict rules, highly professional committee, and the renowned magazine of the same name, dedicated to organizing, and promoting the competition, Decanter World Wine Awards is considered as the world’s most prestigious and greatest wine competition. This year, wines were assessed in London by 236 international wine experts from all over the world, of which 53 were Masters of Wine and 16 Masters Sommeliers. This year’s assessment featured 18,250 wines from 57 countries.
The gold medals received for the A plus and de Baguer red wines from the de Baguer wine cellar are an extraordinary achievement, which tops this year’s impressive number of medals awarded to our wines. These medals reaffirm the consistent quality of Klet Brda wines, not only those in the highest class but also those in the middle and higher class, such as Quercus, Krasno, and Bagueri Superior, of which several received excellent scores and either a silver or a bronze medal. This is an important recognition at a prestigious competition, where samples are assessed according to region and price category, making the prizes even more significant as they efficiently support sales on a global wine market, where consistency in quality is of key importance.
The A Plus and de Baguer wines are the best that Brda soil has to offer to an experienced wine lover. Both are made of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with Cabernet Sauvignon added to A Plus Red. The grapes for these wines are grown in selected vineyards, cultivated with utmost care and according to the principles of sustainable production. In the vineyard and in the cellar, nothing is left to chance. The result of that is wine of the greatest quality, which reflects the style and personal touch of the Winery’s great oenologist, Darinko Ribolica, who strives to achieve fullness and assertive character in the A Plus blend and finesse and elegance in the de Baguer blend. The wines from the selected vineyards, situated at the best sites, are matured in the de Baguer wine cellar at the Dobrovo castle and are only produced in the best vintages and in limited quantities.
The A Plus Red 2017 wine can only be described with superlatives. This is an extraordinary 2017 vintage, a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc from the best sites. It was carefully aged in the best barriques under the watchful eye of the legendary oenologist Darinko Ribolica, who is known for creating winning combinations over and over again.
The main oenologist Darinko Ribolica describes this award-winning wine as follows: “This is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc from the best sites, in which we strive to find the extract, fullness, and structure to best express the Brda soil. The fact that A Plus Red received 95 points and a gold medal at Decanter proves that the region of Goriška Brda is great for producing dry red wines. However, this result would not have been possible without the expertise of our team and the years of experience in aging the best Brda wines.”
The gold medal for the de Baguer Merlot-Cabernet Franc 2017 was another recognition of their efforts and years of commitment to determine the sites through which Brda terroir could be best expressed. By choosing older vineyards of Merlot and Cabernet Franc from selected sites, we were able to strive for a sophisticated fruity character, elegance, and mineral character typical of Brda.
International evaluators agree on which characteristics are shared by the winning wines at Decanter and have emphasised three key qualities. The first is communication; the winning wine must clearly communicate its origin and character. The second is ultimate enjoyment, which only the best wines can offer. And the third is excellence, which stems from terroir and high quality in all phases of production and is reflected in the wine’s complexity, full taste, and the length of its finish. The received awards give us the assurance that all three of these characteristics are represented in our wines.
Every year in April or May in the picturesque 19th century Sierakow Manor near the beautiful medieval city of Kraków in the south of Poland, the renowned International Rosé Championship takes place. This year, the evaluation took place between May 9 and 10. Klet Brda registered 3 wines: the classic sparkling wine rosé Bagueri superior, sparkling rosé Quercus and rosé Quercus.
With its antique pink color enriched by warm golden undertones, the classic sparkling wine rosé Bagueri superior represents timeless elegance. Its subtle aroma of red fruits and citrus fruits provides lasting freshness, making this sparkling wine an excellent aperitif. It goes wonderfully with sushi and salmon, but it can also be served with desserts with forest fruits.
Sparkling rosé Quercus is characterized by full structure and charming elegance. It has a delicate pink color with purple reflections and an aroma of wild strawberries, cherries and raspberries. An excellent refreshing aperitif that goes well with fish dishes and cold meats. Perfect for summer get-togethers.
Rosé Quercus is an elegant and seductively fragrant rosé with a distinctly fruity aromatic profile that ranges from raspberries and currants to cherries. With its freshness, it comes to the fore in cheese plates, oriental food and delicate risottos.
The three juries at the mentioned evaluation are made up of internationally recognized oenologists, sommeliers and journalists from as many as nine countries. Among the many submitted wines from all over the world, all three of our wines achieved excellent marks and won the silver medal, which is one more confirmation for us that we create high-quality wines for all tastes and occasions.
