Vitovska Selezione '67' Skerlj 2023

The Friulian artisan winery Skerlj presents the Vitovska Selezione ‘67’, an orange wine made from Vitovska with a vibrant and articulated personality, resulting from a peculiar processing in stone amphorae. The vinification and aging of wines in stone has very ancient historical roots and has been rediscovered by the Skerlj brothers along with other wine realities of the Carso. The properties of this material are high porosity and a remarkable ability to dissipate heat, in addition to its aromatic neutrality towards wine. This label was produced for the first time with the 2018 vintage, and the number ‘67’ represents a tribute to the birth date of the producer Matej's daughters, both born on July 6.

The Vitovska Skerlj Selezione ‘67’ originates from only Vitovska grapes grown without the use of synthetic chemical products in the Trieste Carso area, on rocky red soils. The harvest is carried out entirely by hand, and the bunches are then pressed in Aurisina stone amphorae, a typical rock of the Carso, containers in which spontaneous alcoholic fermentation takes place in contact with the skins for a long period. The wine remains to mature in the amphorae for 24 months and is then aged for an additional year in 5 hectoliter oak barrels. The final bottling takes place without prior clarification or filtration, and after a further resting period in the bottle, the wine is finally ready for market release.

In the glass, the Vitovska Selezione ‘67’ from the Skerlj winery in the Carso region shows a bright orange color. The olfactory profile carries complex and rich aromas of ripe apple, orange peel, prickly pear, macerated flowers, and dried fruit, supported by a powerful mineral vein. The taste confirms the tension and energy felt on the nose, with the important structure supported by pleasant freshness and a slight tannic sensation. The epilogue is marked by an incisive and pleasant saline trail.