2015 Opoka Chardonnay

The 2015 Chardonnay Opoka Marjan Simčič was aged for 23 months in used French oak and comes in at 14% alcohol. Sourced from vines averaging 44 to 49 years of age, this handles its wood surprisingly well. The wood rounds off the wine and deprives it of some personality and verve, but there is little in the way of vanilla or caramel, and just a hint of cream. Meanwhile, as tends to be the style, this is harmonious, without a hair out of place. Nothing stands out on first taste—it is about the finesse not the power—but it persists extremely well and evolves in the glass. I'd like to see this actually improve in cellar, but it's worth leaning up just now. There were just 3,333 regular bottles produced (plus some other formats).