Vasja Čotar is not exactly what we would call a "people person" – getting a word out of him is truly difficult! You can't even get him to talk about his wines; he's reserved, blunt, and the way he talks about his products makes them sound like ordinary tavern wines!
He's a man of few words, and with that Ibrahimovic-like voice of his, you almost feel afraid to ask anything more!
"This is Vitovska!"
And so let's talk about this Vitovska!
Vitovska is a native Slovenian grape variety found throughout the Carso and therefore also in our Friuli; it is an ancient variety also known as Vitouska or Vitovska Gargania. Until recently it was used only in blends, but lately some producers have decided to rediscover it and give it the spotlight by vinifying it as a single varietal. Čotar Wines is one of these estates.
The Vitovska from Čotar macerates on the skins for seven days and then spends two years in 2,000-litre barrels.
Its color is amber; the nose carries a hint of Marsala, with banana, honey, and a fruity character balanced by dried flowers.
On the palate it is round and warm – almost to the point of burning – savoury, mineral, and it dries out your palate thanks to well-perceptible tannins that leave your mouth dry. You want more…
A wine to drink like a red – serve it at room temperature and pair it with a nice cheese board.
Worth noting: when he can avoid it, Vasja adds no sulfites, and when he is truly forced to, he writes the exact quantity of added sulfites on the back of every label. An example worth following? Not for the big names!
Few words, a great deal of work, outstanding results.
What do you think?
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