When talking to him several weeks ago, Giorgio Clai told us he considers the 2009 Brombonero his best red wine to date. We, on the other hand, opted for the 2013 edition. Most wine professionals who participated in the selection of the Wine of the Year by the Plava Kamenica Cult, obviously agrees. The 2013 Brombonero was dominantly declared the best wine of the year. It received 90 points, 44 more than the second place Great Harvest of Ilok Cellars. Here is why the Brombonero won by such a large margin and why this is Clai’s best Refošk ever, Plava Kamenica published on December 21, 2016.
The 2013 Brombonero is an elegant and well rounded wine which has kept all the depth, expressiveness and slightly wild character of this mighty Refošk, which lacked a bit of finesse in previous harvests. It is chock full of dark berry fruits, mineral, just slightly smoked, with precisely rounded ripe tannins. Full on the middle palate, lasts very long in the mouth, with the fifteen percent alcohol perfectly incorporated. Brombonero 2013 is one of the strongest displays of terroir of western Istria in general.
Giorgio Clai is an unusual winemaker with international renown, who has coherently followed his vision of authentic and strong wines. His Sveti Jakov Malvasia is constantly among the best in Croatia, the red and white Ottocento are very good, while the sparkling wine, somewhat clumsy in the first harvests, has made significant progress. The Clai winery went through certain ownership changes this year, but Mr. Clai assured us he will continue to manage both the vineyards and cellar. Which is certainly important and good news.
Finalists of the 2016 Wine of the Year selection:
Clai Brombonero 2013 90 points
Ilok Cellars Graševina Great Harvest 2011 58 points
Medea Punta Greca 2013 36 points
Coronica Malvasia 2015 34 points
Ilok Cellars Traminer Late Grape Harvest 2011 28 points
Tomac Riesling 2015 26 points
Bolfan Sauvignon 2015 24 points
Tomac Sauvignon 2015 18 points
Veralda Istrian 2015 14 points
Korak Pinot Nero 2013 14 points
Pošip Nerica 2015 14 points
Domaine Koquelicot Belaigra Chardonnay 2013 14 points
Saints Hills Dingač Sveta Lucija 2011 12 points
Pošip Rizman 2015 12 points
Malvasia Kuća Glavić 2015 12 points
Gran Teran Coronica 10 points
Millenium Tomac NV 8 points
Babić Gracin 2011 8 points
Veralda Ambra 2014 8 points
Chardonnay Krauthaker 6 points
Pošip Krajančić 2015 6 points
Zdjelarević Muscat Brutal 2009 6 points
Fakin Malvasia 2015 6 points
OPG Sladić Lasina 2014 6 points
Cattunar Malvasia Collina 2013 4 points
Rizman Tribidrag 4 points
Kozlović Santa Lucia 2011 4 points
Ciblić Dingač 2013 4 points
Tomac Brut Rose 4 points
Vina Laguna Castello 2012 4 points
Radovanović Rukatac 2015 4 points
Galić Sauvignon 2015 2 points
Krauthaker MERCS 2012 2 points
Mala Nevina St. Hills 2015 2 points
Krauthaker Graševina late harvest of dried grapes 2012 2 points
Radovanović Plavac 2015 Single Barrel 2 points
Roxanich Milva 2 points
