Sanctum Lisica Pinot Noir 2023

Pinot Noir has grown on the hills of Lipoglav since the 12th century, when French monks first decided this corner of Slovenia's Lower Štajerska region was special enough for it. Today Marko Podkubovšek carries that history forward at Sanctum, farming steep, 45-degree, south-facing slopes between 100 and 480 meters, where cold winters and wind-whipped nights keep the fruit honest. No irrigation, no herbicides—just old-fashioned attention to the land.

"Lisica" means vixen, and there's something appropriately wild about this wine. Hand-harvested, destemmed, and left to ferment spontaneously with a long 19–24 day maceration, then aged a year in used French oak before bottling unfiltered. The result is bright cranberry fruit with an intriguing vegetal, earthy edge that opens up with air—intense at first, then surprisingly elegant and food-friendly.

This wants a hearty table: goulash, roasted red meats, pulled pork, or a slow-simmered beef broth loaded with root vegetables.

Region: Lipoglav, Lower Štajerska (Styria), Slovenia
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Farming: No irrigation, no herbicides, sustainable
Winemaking: Spontaneous fermentation, 12 months in used French oak, unfiltered
ABV: 12.5%

Explicitly delicious.