SVIJET U ČAŠI & SUHI U ČAŠI & WINE STARS
BUYER’S GUIDE
FEBRUARY 2017
IN THE WINE THERE IS SUN, SOIL, VINE AND SWEAT, AUTHENTICITY AND BUSINESS, JOY AND PAIN, ANXIETY AND EBRIETY
SAMPLES ARE FROM THE MARKET
♣♣♣♣♣♣ –Champion – 99 – 100 (or: 19,9 – 20 / 4,9 – 5,0) pts = Brilliant! Impressive! Unique!
♣♣♣♣♣ –Great gold medal – 95 – 98 (19,5 – 19,8 / 4,5 – 4,8) = Excellent, with character, elegant, classic great wine.
♣♣♣♣ –Gold medal – 90 – 94 (18,6 – 19,4 / 4,0 – 4,4) = outstanding, multilayered, with high style and a big personality.
♣♣♣ –Silver medal – 85 – 89 (17,5 – 18,5 / 3,0 – 3,9) = very good and typical, complex, convincing, with chances to develop even more, for the exigent consumer.
♣♣ 80 – 84 (15,5 – 17,4 / 2,1 – 2,9) = variety recognisable, in a certain determinate style, solid, not exciting.
♣ 71 – 79 (11,0 – 15,4 / 1,1 – 2,0) = average, ordinary, with no virtues and no significant to strong flaws, still acceptable for everyday use.
under 71 ( 11,0 / 1,0) = low-average, best to avoid.
⇑- drink • ⇗ –drink or hold • ⇒ –hold • – recommended to drink with food.
Samples are taken from sources with adequate wine storage and expert staff, so inappropriate storage effects should be excluded. If a classic scent or taste is found on the cap (TCA), the sample is retasted from another bottle. A sample is immediately rejected if at least two thirds of the jury decides so. For a quality/price comparison the wine needs at least 85 points out of 100, or 17.5 points from 20, or 3 on a scale to 5.
Croatian Highlands
♣ ♣ ♣ (L) RHINE RIESLING 2015 – TOMAC
PLEŠIVICA
■ VARIETY: Rhine Riesling
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: quality with controlled origin • 13 % • 0.75 lit
The wine is recognisable by variety, complex, harmonious, likeable, lovely to drink. On the nose at first slightly reserved, opens gradually, scents of ripe fruits and flowers and minerals, touch of petroleum. Salty in the mouth, with mild savour and quality trailing acidity. Long lasting taste.
■ SERVING ⇗ shells, seafood risotto, white fish, brodetto, veal • large glass (Rhine) • 12°C
♣ ♣ (♣) (XL) PINOT NERO 2015 – TOMAC
PLEŠIVICA
■ VINEYARD: slope • variety: Pinot Nero, vineyard approach: nature friendly
■ CELLAR: maceration in amphorae and alcoholic fermentation • yeasts: existing • ripening: large barrel
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: quality with controlled geographic origin • dry • 12,5 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ • bottle: heavy, Bourgogne • CAP: cork – serious – long
■ DESIGN: decent • label: recognisable from afar – simple – in two sections – readability: good
Wine is spruced up, harmonious, gentle, complex, slender. Coherent with variety, lovely, easy to drink. In its prime. Looks lively, clear, bright colour. Discrete on the nose, points to fruitiness, pronounced well (fruit: domestic/red/pit), floral (notes of viola), spices/herbs. Rounded in the mouth, salty, with good trailing acidity, good in body and structure, slender, fresh and pleasantly bitter ending.
■ SERVING ⇑ turkey with pastry • medium large glass (Burgundy) • 16°C
Sparklings
♣ ♣ ♣ (XL) COLETTI rosé brut – KOLARIĆ
PLEŠIVICA
■ VINEYARD: variety: Portugieser 80% and Pinot Nero
■ CELLAR: classic method, with second fermentation in bottle
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: superior with controlled geographic origin • brut • 12,5 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine is pure, harmonious, easy to drink. Somewhat intense pink colour, very good pearling. Pleasant on the nose, points to fruitiness. Fresh in the mouth, quite good structure, solid long, mild bitter ending.
■ SERVING ⇑ aperitif, seafood appetizer, raw scampi, fish appetizers • champagne glass • 8-10°C
Dalmatia
♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ (XXL) ZLATAN PLAVAC 2011 grand cru – ZLATAN OTOK (Plenković)
HVAR, SVETA NEDJELJA
■ VINEYARD: variety: Plavac Mali
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: superior with controlled geographic origin • dry • 15 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine is powerful, warm, juicy, complex, harmonious, elegant. Big! Has a future. Dark colour, with finely pronounced and developed typical scent, boiled plum. Full in the mouth, soft, salty, nuance of fine savour, strong body, long ending.
■ SERVING ⇗ red meat • uncork bottle several hours before serving medium • large glass (Bordeaux) • 18°C
♣ ♣ (XXL) PRI•MUS 2012 Plavac Mali – RIZMAN
MIDDLE AND SOUTH DALMATIA, KOMARNA
■ VINEYARD: variety: Plavac Mali
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: dry • 13 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine has very lovely, attractive dark colour, presents fruitiness on nose and in mouth – too much influence of barrel, taste has tannins which in the end dry and constricts mouth.
■ SERVING ⇑ • 16-18°C
♣ ♣ (XXL) TRIBIDRAG 2014 – RIZMAN
MIDDLE AND SOUTH DALMATIA, KOMARNA
■ VINEYARD: variety: Tribidrag/Crljenak/Zinfandel
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: dry • 13,5 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine leaves an impression of clean and neat in oenological sense, but not overly complicated drink. Scent hints fruitiness, but in taste tannins, which in the end dry the mouth.
■ SERVING ⇑ greasy foods, red meats with sauces • large glass (Bordeaux) • 18°C
♣ (M) DILLATUM 2015 – KAŠTELA COOP
KAŠTELA-TROGIR
■ VINEYARD: variety: Plavac Mali, Babica, Ljutun, Dobričić
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: quality with controlled geographic origin • dry • 13,5 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine is uncomplicated, no finesse, slightly wild, scent is animal, tasting impression of increased volatile bitterness. Warm in the mouth, very solid body, bitter, slightly rough and somewhat dry ending.
Istria
♣ ♣ (M-L) VALLE 2016 – KOZLOVIĆ
CROATIAN ISTRIA, WESTERN ISTRIA
■ VINEYARD: variety: Istrian Malvasia & Sauvignon Blanc
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: quality with controlled geographic origin • dry • 12,5 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine has juvenile charge, clear, pale, aromatic, pleanty of Sauvignon notes. For admirers of very young wines. Scent is short, offer fruitiness (apple), flower notes. Bitter in the mouth, body slender, ending not long.
■ SERVING ⇑ white meat salads, pike fish with vegetables • medium large glass (Bordeaux) • 10°C
♣ ♣ (M) MALVASIA 2015 Legovina – LEGOVIĆ
CROATIAN ISTRIA, WESTERN ISTRIA
■ VINEYARD: variety: Istrian Malvasia
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: dry • 12,5 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine is neat, correct, uncomplicated, plenty of flower notes, lively in the mouth, slender, bitter ending.
■ SERVING ⇑ pastas with light white sauces • medium large glass • 10°C
♣ ♣ (M) MUSCAT 2015 – Ivo KATUNAR
KRK, VRBNIK
■ VINEYARD: variety: Muscat
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: quality with controlled geographic origin • semi sweet • 12 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine is recognisable by variety, clean and neat, with unfermented sugars which in moderate quantity goes well with aroma of this variety, but here too much of it. Body very slender, shorter ending.
■ SERVING ⇑ creamy desserts • smaller glass • 8-10°C
♣ ♣ ♣ (L) MERLOT 2013 FESTIGIA – VINA LAGUNA
CROATIAN ISTRIA, WESTERN ISTRIA
■ VINEYARD: variety: Merlot
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: superior with controlled geographic origin • dry • 13,5 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine is full, complex, spruced up, lovely to drink. Dark colour, scent of dark fruits but also mildly with hint of barrel. Taste is soft, harmonious, body good to very good.
■ SERVING ⇗ duck, geese with pastry • large glass (Bordeaux) • 16-18°C
♣ ♣ (M) MERLOT 2015 –RAVALICO
CROATIAN ISTRIA
■ VINEYARD: variety: Merlot
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: superior with controlled geographic origin • dry • 12,6 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine is uncomplicated, neat, fresh, drinkable, suitable for every day.
■ SERVING ⇑ grilled meat • medium large glass (Bordeaux) • 16°C
♣ ♣ ♣ (L) CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013 FESTIGIA – VINA LAGUNA
CROATIAN ISTRIA, WESTERN ISTRIA
■ VINEYARD: variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: superior with controlled geographic origin • dry • 13,5 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine is somewhat complex, plenty of fruitiness but also herbal hints, lively, drinkable, quite good structure, lingering.
■ SERVING ⇑ grilled meat, goulash • large glass (Bordeaux) • 16-18°C
Slavonia & Danube region
♣ ♣ ♣ (L-XL) CHARDONNAY 2015 – BELJE
CROATIAN DANUBE REGION, BARANJA
■ VINEYARD: Goldberg, slight slope • variety: Chardonnay
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: superior with controlled geographic origin • dry • 13,5 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ • bottle: tall slender – heavy – does not fit the wine by tradition • CAP: cork – serious
■ DESIGN: neat
Wine is quite complex, very solid spine that could use more meat, very warm, harmonious, very lively. Coherent with terroir, typology, variety. In its prime that can last. Looks lively, clear, straw-yellow. On the nose points to fruitiness – presented well (fruit: domestic/green; white/pit/nut), floral – sense of bread crust, mineral. In the mouth rounded, salty, good trailing acidity, fine bitterness. In body and structure good to very good, lively, bitter, medium long warm ending.
■ SERVING ⇗ pasta with moldy cheese sauce, white grilled fish, brodetto, fried chicken, veal… • larger glass • 12°C
♣ ♣ ♣ (S-M) GRAŠEVINA 2015 mass wine – ĐAKOVO-SRIJEM ARCHBISHOPRY
ĐAKOVO, TRNAVA
■ VINEYARD: variety: Graševina
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: dry • 13,5 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine is full, warm, lovely bright yellow colour, quite sustained on the nose and need to open up in the glass. Flower notes, grass, mineral. Fresh in the mouth, salty, presents very good body. Lingering. Retro nasally points to almonds.
■ SERVING ⇑ white grilled fish • large glass (Rhine) • 12°C
♣ ♣ (M) TRAMINER 2015 mass wine – ĐAKOVO-OSIJEK ARCHBISHOPRY
ĐAKOVO, TRNAVA
■ VINEYARD: variety: Traminer
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: 14 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine is clean and neat, strong, slightly rustic, very warm, recognisable variety but the variety is shyly presented and does not promote character.
■ SERVING ⇑ • medium large glass (Bordeaux) • 12-14°C
♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ (XL) JAKOB SYRAH 2013 – VINA JAKOB
SLAVONSKI BROD, STUPNIK
■ VINEYARD: variety: Syrah
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: superior with controlled geographic origin • dry • 14,5 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine is full, dense, warm, strong, correct, complex. Harmonious, has elegance. Goes well with food, but still too young for consumption, its prime will follow. Lively, dark, almost impenetrable ruby colour with purple nuance, finely presented scent with plenty fruit and hints of spices and chocolate, in the mouth salty, well rounded, with lively and quite polished tannins, strong body.
■ SERVING ⇗ dark grilled meat, in sauce • large glass (Bordeaux) • 18°C
♣ ♣ ♣ (♣) (XXL) JAKOB CUVÉE 2013 – VINA JAKOB
SLAVONSKI BROD, STUPNIK
■ VINEYARD: variety: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: superior with controlled geographic origin • dry • 14 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine is concentrated, strong, warm, finely spruced up, elegant, too young. Still slightly closed on the nose and when opened in glass gives scent with plenty of fruits and spices from ripening in barrel, but barrel influence is not striking and does not disturb harmony. Well rounded in the mouth, with ripe tannins that need to soften up. Salty, dose of fine savour, good trailing acidity. Potent body, long, warm, lively finale, great potential.
■ SERVING ⇗ aged red meats, uncork several hours before serving • large glass (Bordeaux) • 18°C
♣ ♣ (M) MERLOT 2015 – BUHAČ
CROATIAN DANUBE REGION, ILOK
■ VINEYARD: variety: Merlot
■ LABEL&ALCOHOL: superior with controlled geographic origin • dry • 13 %
■ BOTTLED IN: 0,75 ℓ
Wine is pure in scent and taste, points to fruits and slightly green on the nose, without body in mouth and with tannins that seem not ripe enough.
■ SERVING ⇑ • medium large glass • 16-18°C
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