Giocato, Aleks Simcic

	Goriška Brda, Slovenia. (Vipolže) 7.5 hectares.
	Giocato. (jo-KA-toh)
	Aleks Simcic. (AHL-eks SEEM-chitch)
	Aleks Simcic. (AHL-eks SEEM-chitch)
	Hand-harvested. No irrigation.
	10,000 cases.
	Giocato has been part of the Small Vineyards family since 2008.

Aleks Simcic, winemaker for the Edi Simcic estate in Goriška Brda, Slovenia, is considered by many to be the finest winemaker in Eastern Europe. Located just meters over the Italian border, Simcic lives in what was Italy until the end of World War II. It also happens to be one of “Italy’s” best areas, perhaps THE best area, to grow white wine varietals. Long-aging, intense, and sophisticated, the wines now rival the best of France. Among their most surprising wines is Pinot Grigio; when done well, a true delight. Mostly, inexpensive Pinot Grigio are almost always vapid, thin, and flavorless; there are great expensive ones, but they are hard to find and of course, expensive. Therefore, we went to Aleks Simcic, maker of extraordinary, micro-batch cult wines, and challenged him: “can you make a fantastic, expressive, mineral-driven Pinot Grigio for about $10 retail?” His answer is Giocato, a terrific wine by any standard, and one that raises the bar on inexpensive Pinot Grigio. Aleks makes the wine from grapes he purchases from his neighbors, and some of them are on the larger side; therefore, it does not qualify to be a Small Vineyards wine, and is imported under our Largo banner. The wine is fantastic, and like all Largo wines, it is the great exception that proves the rule.