Just as the April frost was destroying the vineyards on Korčula Island, the first bottles of the new harvest of Pošip Nerica by Jakša Krajančić arrived in Zagreb. Last year we declared this wine the next big thing of Dalmatian winemaking, as finally a standardised young Pošip came, successfully blending the characteristics of island terroir with the freshness and elegance of modern global white wines. It seems our estimate was correct, as Pošip Nerica became common on wine charts of many serious Croatian restaurants. We tasted the 2016 harvest and it confirmed the leading position of Nerica among all widely available young Pošips.
The 2016 harvest differs from 2015 by pronounced freshness and herbal and citrus elements at first scent, with plenty of association of grapefruit, with some in the taste as well. But, after only a few minutes in the glass the primary aromas of bitter citrus and cold chlorophyll join the rich scents of white field flowers, warm garrigue and vineyard peaches, creating an authentic Pošip bouquet. Pošip Nerica 2016 has an almost oily structure, is very elegant and truly unusually fresh for Dalmatian white wines. It is one of the most modern and precisely made Dalmatian young white wines we have ever tasted.
To truly become a great, classic wine, Nerica is still missing the identity X factor, which separates the best wines from the rest. But, we are already certain that this summer and until Christmas, we will drink many bottles of Pošip Nerica. Besides, after the frost catastrophe on Korčula which destroyed most of the 2017 crop, it seems wine consumers in Croatia should support Korčula winemakers by ordering plenty of their bottles.
For the original and more from Plava Kamenica, click here.
