Last Wednesday evening at the Zagreb Vivat Wine Lovers bar a promotion of new wines was held by the young Korčula vine grower and winemaker Jakša Krajančić. The almost full bar enjoyed the presentation of the 2017 Rose, Pošip Nerica from the same, very tough and stingy harvest, as well as Pošip Mindel from 2015 and 2016. The latter is not yet on the market.
Rose Nerica, made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Plavac Mali and Syrah, thrilled us at first taste. Finally we have a pure, hard, sharp, dry rose which must be great with food, certain to extinguish thirst and require another glass, and another and so on until it runs out. It is our pleasure to declare the moderately pale Nerica Rose as our favourite rose of the season, one that may become the rule for modern Croatian roses (not counting authored wines such as Miloš Stagnum R or Tolj’s St. Heels).
The 2017 Pošip will require another tasting: at first touch, in an atmosphere that does not allow for a more precise analysis of wine, it seemed very big and mighty, with notably less Sauvignon elements than last year, which is certainly good. We are not certain, however, if it possesses that inspirational freshness from the 2015 harvest which elevated Nerica to many restaurant wine lists.
The Pošip Mindel from the same name position is an elite wine by Jakša Krajančić, a sur lie. The 2016 harvest is still closed on the nose, but with a lovely oiliness, while the 2015, which we tasted simultaneously from a standard bottle and a magnum, is solidly rounded, elegant, full of harmonious fruit and fermentation aromas. The magnum of course proved superior than the 0.75l bottle in view of balancing all Mindel characteristics. It does seem to us, however, that even with Mindel there is a certain problem with freshness. On the other hand, it is a wine which truly demands food (shrimps, lobsters, large white fish) and it is not fair to judge it based on a tasting in a full bar.
Translated from Plava Kamenica, for the original click here.
