Little Red Riding Hood strayed from the path and she survived to tell the tale, albeit covered in lupine gastric juices, so it’s worth venturing into the dark woods once in a while. Take this unusual and fascinating Slovenian white, for example, made from a blend of organically grown Welsch Riesling, Chardonnay and Sauvignon grapes. It’s delicious and really quite a serious wine, comparable in some ways to a textured, gastronomic white Bordeaux, displaying gooseberry fool, green plums and lemon posset held in a grip of salty minerals. It's textured and creamy and has lots of richness, but still with that lovely citrus and gooseberry dash that vitalises the palate. Enjoy it on its own, but fish and white meat is all the better to eat with it. 13.5% alc. Drink now-2027.

Organically farmed

Press reviews:

The Wine Advocate (previous vintage): “The Marof 2020 Goričko Blanc is an aromatic and fleshy blend of Laški Rizling (Welschriesling, 50%), Chardonnay (30%) and Sauvignon Blanc (20%) vinified in 500- and 2,500-litre oak casks for 18 months. The intensely straw-yellow wine is pure, refined and fresh on the super aromatic but also spicy-mineral nose. On the palate, this is a lush, savoury and fresh, enormously vital but also textured assemblage with lots of grip and character for a white in this price class. The wine is herbal and fresh, provided with grapefruit and citrus fruit but also white and yellow stone-fruit aromas and a brilliant expression of its origin close to both Austria's South Styria and Hungary. Drink now-2028.” 89 points

Jamie Goode (previous vintage): “Laški Rizling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon. Fermented in 500 and 600 litre barrels. The Laški Rizling has 2 days skin contact. Complex nose with some nuts, honey and lanolin as well as some chalky spicy notes, as well as pear and ripe apple. The palate is pure, textured and fresh with a chalky mineral undertow to the sweet citrus fruit with some appley depth and a mineral finish. Very expressive with layers of flavour, finishing fresh but with some restrained richness." 94 points