{"product_id":"vodopivec-vitovska-2001","title":"Vodopivec, Vitovska 2001","description":"\u003cp\u003eVodopivec Vitovska 2001 is a benchmark skin-contact white from the stony Carso (Karst) plateau above Trieste, crafted by one of Italy’s most dedicated interpreters of this rare indigenous grape. This vintage marks a pivotal moment for the estate, when years of experimentation with Vitovska, long unknown outside the local area, crystallized into a quietly profound, perfectly balanced wine. Made with minimal intervention and a deep respect for place, it captures the rugged limestone landscape and red Karst soils in the glass.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, Vodopivec Vitovska 2001 shows a deep golden to amber hue, a hallmark of extended skin contact and long, careful aging. Depending on storage and bottle variation, you may see a gently hazy appearance, as the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered.\n\nThe nose is complex and evolving, with layers of dried apricot, preserved lemon, chamomile, and wild herbs, overlaid with notes of honeycomb, beeswax, wet stone, and subtle oxidative nuances reminiscent of toasted nuts and dried flowers. On the palate, this is a structured, contemplative wine: the texture is firm and almost tactile from the maceration, with a savoury, saline spine that speaks clearly of the Karst. Flavours of dried citrus peel, quince, wild fennel, and tea-like tannins unfold gradually, supported by lively acidity and a lingering mineral finish. At this mature stage, the 2001 shows fully developed tertiary notes yet retains impressive freshness; well-stored bottles can still offer rewarding drinking, though it is now firmly in its plateau of maturity rather than for long-term cellaring.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe vineyards lie around 260 metres above sea level in Colludrozza, near Sgonico, where vines cling to a rocky limestone plateau punctuated by pockets of distinctive red Karst soil. Yields are deliberately kept extremely low—around 500 grams of grapes per vine—concentrating flavour and minerality. All work in the vineyard is natural and manual, with hand-harvesting into small crates to preserve berry integrity. For the 2001 vintage, grapes picked on the 27th and 28th of September were destemmed, lightly crushed, and left to undergo spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, macerating on the skins for about seven days. The wine was then pressed in a traditional press and aged in a 30-hectolitre Slovenian oak cask used for the first time in the cellar, allowing slow, gentle development without masking the grape’s character. No chemical stabilisers, enzymes, or fining agents were employed, and the wine was bottled without filtration after two years and two months of élevage, preserving its natural texture and purity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is an ideal wine for thoughtful, table-centred meals, matching particularly well with rich, savoury dishes that can stand up to its structure and gentle tannin. Think aged hard cheeses, herb-roasted chicken, guinea fowl, veal or rabbit stews, grilled octopus, seared tuna, and rustic preparations of porcini or other wild mushrooms. It also pairs beautifully with dishes featuring Mediterranean herbs, olive oil, and root vegetables. Serve at 12–14°C, slightly warmer than a typical white to allow the aromatic layers to open fully. Decanting for 30–60 minutes is recommended, especially for well-stored bottles, to soften the edges, release accumulated bottle aromas, and let the wine show its full complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVodopivec is a small, highly respected estate in Colludrozza, in the Carso area above Trieste, run by brothers Paolo and Valter Vodopivec since 1997. From the outset, they made the radical decision to focus almost exclusively on Vitovska, the region’s historic white variety that was once virtually unknown beyond its local hillsides. Their commitment to natural farming, extremely low yields, and traditional, low-intervention vinification—long macerations, amphora and large Slavonian oak, no filtration—has helped reframe Vitovska as a serious, ageworthy wine with a strong sense of place. Over the years, Vodopivec has become a reference point for Karst wines and for Italy’s skin-contact white movement, with the 2001 vintage often cited as a foundational year in the realization of their original vision.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vodopivec","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54256133505361,"sku":"EOW-VOD-HVID-2001-075","price":133.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/DSC09443-Edit.png?v=1783462840","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/vodopivec-vitovska-2001","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}