Other than the tannic old vine Miloš Rosé, this is the only other one we import. It’s also the complete opposite. This is painfully fresh, zero maceration, and gets its color from the addition of a little Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to the Teran. We brought in a little to help fill a container years ago and it’s become a small lot favorite even since. Sour cherries, watermelon, and a hint of the bloodiness that’s common in the 100% Teran. Never rushed to market, it can handle some age as well.
Štoka farms about 25 hectares with roughly 7 devoted primarily to Teran with smaller parcels of Vitovska, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot. With soils rich in iron oxides (hematite), the drastic contrast of color between the red soil (Terra Rossa), green vines, and ripe grapes seems almost artificial. Depending on the amount of top soil, limestone rocks often stick out like teeth with surrounding vegetation struggling for survival. 250 meters above the Adriatic these sites are cooler than the more coastal Italian vineyards. The combination of wind, altitude, and proximity to the Alps are essential for accumulating greater complexity. All of the vines are about 15 years old, fertilized with cow manure, and dry farmed.
Considered one of the oldest and most revered local grapes. Harvesting is done by hand, destemmed, and macerated for 8 days before a long and slow native fermentation in large oak barrels. A small portion spends 10 months on the skins to serve as a blending agent. The wine is then racked to used barrels and moved into caves for aging. Full malolactic fermentation results in added texture and weight.