Organic Anarchy - Radigalls Iz Sort Chardonnay, Kerner, Rizling - 2016

Organic Anarchy - Radigall Iz Sort Chardonnay, Kerner, Rizling - 2020

The spelling on this micro-batch bottle—Radigalls (sometimes spelled Radicall by Aci)—carries a profound emotional charge. It is Aci Urbajs’s personal nod to his friend and giant of raw winemaking, the late Stanko Radikon. Inspired by Radikon's philosophy, Aci took his exceptional 2016 harvest from the steep slopes of Rifnik and gave the skins and lees an even longer, more patient slumber in old wood barrels than his standard cuvées. Grown under strict lunar cycles and bottled with strictly zero sulfur, it is one of Aci’s rare, highly sought-after "unicorn" releases.

The 2016 vintage brought immaculate balance to Styria—a cool, steady ripening season that endowed the grapes with dense phenolic skin structure while keeping acidity electric. In this special Radigalls aging treatment, Chardonnay provides a broad, textured canvas, Kerner injects wild aromatic spice, and Renski Rizling electrifies the core with a laser beam of mountain acidity.

The Visual: A glowing, hazy orange-copper with fiery amber glints. Unfined, unfiltered, and swirling with natural sediment—living history in the glass.

The Nose: Smoldering, deep, and ever-shifting. Waves of dried persimmon, bitter orange peel, and apricot puree give way to toasted hazelnuts, wild pine resin, damp stone, dried chamomile tea, and a flick of volatile electric lifting.

The Palate: Pure tactile poetry. The extended skin contact delivers a rich, chewy, tea-like tannic frame that coats the tongue without ever feeling heavy. Notes of salt-cured citrus, savory umami, dried mountain herbs, and beeswax sweep across the palate, driven home by a long, energetic, mouthwatering saline finish.

This isn't just a bottle of wine; it is a conversation between two masters of the natural wine movement. The 2016 Radigalls takes Aci’s already radical hands-off philosophy and pushes the boundaries of skin-contact texture and longevity. Unfettered by commercial rules, it is a deeply moving, energetic, and meditative amber wine built to evolve in the glass over hours.

Best enjoyed: Cellar temperature (13–15°C / 55–59°F). Pour into large Burgundy bowls or give it a light decant—drink it slowly to witness a masterclass in living, zero-sulfur winemaking.