Kolos 2018 (Edi Simcic)

Cellar for up to 15 years. Decant 1 hour before serving. This majestic red wine is widely considered one of Slovenia’s finest Bordeaux-style blends thanks to the winemaking talent of Edi and Aleks Simcic. Edi founded his namesake winery in 1990 in Vipolže in Slovenia’s Gorizia Hills and has since expanded the venture to encompass 30 acres of prime vineyards on the slopes around the village. In recent years he has been joined aby his talented winemaker son, Aleks, and together the duo craft very small quantities of excellent artisanal wines from both local and international varieties. Kolos is their flagship wine and is composed predominantly of Merlot along with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The fruit is taken from Edi Simcic’s very finest vineyards and is only made during the best vintages. In the winery the young wine is aged in new oak barrels for 48 months to add complexity and to fully harmonise the individual components of the blend. On the nose there are powerful cassis, black cherry and plum aromas seasoned with hints of toast, tobacco, woodsmoke and cigar box spice from the long maturation. The first sip reveals a muscular full body and intense tannins that will age gracefully with another decade or so in the cellar.