Fakin Wines Teran 2022 (Istria, Croatia)

A storied and elegant grape grown in Istria for more than 650 years, Teran (distinct from Refosco, which is known as Teran in Slovenia) yields wines known for their rich tannins, marked acidity, and unique fruit. Fakin grows theirs in the hillsides of Motovun, a small mountain village in the central Istrian Peninsula, where Alpine winds bring cold air throughout the short, warm, summers, allowing the grapes to retain their vibrant character.  We pick up on crisp blue and red fruit, black pepper, and a pithy, savory finish, with robust minerality informed by alternating sediments of shale and sandstone, and assertive tannins that should smooth out with 30-45 minutes of air. Food Pairings: Meat and spinach burek, scalloped potatoes and smoked collards, swordfish a la plancha, massaman curry ABV:  14%