SVIJET U ČAŠI & SUHI U ČAŠI & WINE STARS
BUYER’S GUIDE
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 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
♣ (M) SAUVIGNON 2016 – STRUČIĆ
■ ORIGIN: Ludbreg
■ VINEYARD, variety: sauvignon
■ LABEL: SEMI-DRY • 12,0 %
■ BOTTLED in: 0,75 l
■ Wine is light, simple to be consumed as soon as possible.
■ SERVING: ⇑ • 8-10°C
Dalmatia
♣ ♣ (M-L) POŠIP 2016 – TOMIĆ
■ ORIGIN: Hvar
■ VINEYARD, variety: Pošip
■ LABEL: dry • 13,5 %
■ BOTTLED in: 0,75 l • bottle, model: Bordeaux • CAP: neat
■ DESIGN: decent – neat
Wine is yellow in colour, slightly dull scent, pleasant taste, salty, somewhat flat, medium body, to be consumed now.
■ SERVING: ⇑ • 10-12°C
♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ (XXL) DINGAČ 2013 – KIRIDŽIJA
■ ORIGIN: Pelješac, Dingač
■ VINEYARD, slope • variety: Plavac Mali • approach in the vineyard: nature friendly
■ LABEL: dry • 15,0 %
■ BOTTLED in: 0,75 l • bottle, model: Bordeaux • CAP: cork – serious
■ DESIGN: decent – neat
Wine is complex, rich and ripe, full, strong structure, with notable but well managed tannins. A grand Plavac Mali, suitable for aging.
■ SERVING: ⇗ (strong, refreshing dishes – roasts…) • uncork bottles several hours before serving – decant • large glass (Bordeaux) • 18°C
♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ (XXL) PLAVAC MALI 2011 barrique – BASTIJANA TOMIĆ
■ ORIGIN: Hvar, Ivan Dolac
■ VINEYARD: slope • variety: Plavac Mali
■ LABEL: dry • 14,5 %
■ BOTTLED in: 0,75 l • bottle, model: Bordeaux • CAP: cork – serious
■ DESIGN: decent – neat – recognisable from afar
Wine is complex, soft, lively, harmonious, full bodied, warm. Needs time to open up.
■ SERVING: ⇗ • uncork bottle several hours before serving – decant • large glass (Bordeaux) • 18°C
♣ ♣ ♣ (♣) (L) KORLAT SYRAH 2013 – BADEL 1862/VINARIJA BENKOVAC
■ ORIGIN: Dalmatian hinterland, Benkovac-Stankovci
■ VINEYARD: Korlat • height above sea level: cca 300 m • soil: lots of stone • variety: Syrah • approach in the vineyard: conventional
■ LABEL: superior with controlled geographic origin • dry • 14,0 %
■ BOTTLED in: 0,75 ℓ • bottle, model: Bordeaux • modified – low, heavy • CAP: cork – serious – quite long
■ DESIGN: decent • label: engraved – innovative / original – recognisable from afar – in two sections – readability: good
Wine is complex, substantial, rich, juicy, has character, serious, spruced up, very warm, with plenty of liveliness. Coherent with, terroir, typology, age. Goes well with food. On the rise, needs more time. Looks lively, ruby-mild granite, dark. Moderate on the nose, developed, mineral, fruity, expressed well (fruit: domestic/red/pit; berry), vegetative/herbal – discrete, spices – expressed with measure and well blended, sensation of wood, chocolate – touch- Soft in the mouth, rounded, with softened tannins. Salty, with quality trailing acidity, bitter. Potent in body&structure, fresh bitter-sour and quite long warming ending.
■ SERVIS: ⇗ ⇒ • uncork bottle several hours before serving wine • large glass (for Syrah) • 16-18°C
♣ ♣ ♣ (♣) (XXL) KORLAT SYRAH 2012 Supreme – BADEL 1862/BENKOVAC WINERY
■ ORIGIN: Dalmatian hinterland, Benkovac-Stankovci
■ VINEYARD: Korlat • height above sea level: cca 300 m • soil: lots of stone • variety: Syrah • reduced yield • ideal harvest time • handpicked • grape selection • approach in the vineyard: conventional
■ CELLAR, maturation: wooden barrels, barrique
■ LABEL: superior with controlled geographic origin • dry • 14,0 %
■ BOTTLED in: 0,75 ℓ • bottle, model: Bordeaux • modified – low and heavy • CAP: cork – serious – quite long
■ DESIGN: decent • label: engraved – innovative / original – recognisable from afar – in two sections – readability: good
Wine is rich, meaty, very warm, robust, quite lively. Needs more time, and if consumed now needs stronger food. Looks lively, ruby-granite, very dark. On the nose points to spices – stronger expression, then sensation of burning/smoke, vanilla, chocolate, then comes fruitiness. Well rounded in the mouth, with lively, quite smooth tannins. Suggest savour, good trailing acidity. Potent in body&structure, bitter and longer warming ending.
■ SERVING: ⇗ ⇒ • large glass • 18°C
♣ ♣ ♣ (L) KORLAT MERLOT 2013 – BADEL 1862/BENKOVAC WINERY
■ ORIGIN: Dalmatian hinterland, Benkovac-Stankovci
■ VINEYARD: Korlat • plateau – slope • height above sea level: cca 300 m • soil: plenty of stone • variety: Merlot • approach in the vineyard: conventional
■ LABEL: superior with controlled geographic origin • dry • 13,0 %
■ BOTTLED in: 0,75 ℓ • bottle, model: Bordeaux • modified – low and heavy • CAP: cork – serious – quite long
■ DESIGN: decent • label: engraved – innovative / original – recognisable from afar – in two sections – readability: good
Wine is spruced up, harmonious, very warm, plenty of liveliness. Coherent with: terroir, typology, age. Goes well with food. Impression of prime, which can last. Looks lively ruby-mild granite. Moderate on the nose, mineral, fruity, pronounced well – (fruit: domestic; red/pit; berry/sour cherry, blueberry…), spices – presented with measure – well blended. Rounded in the mouth, with lively tannins. Suggest savour, salty, with quality trailing acidity. Very good in body&structure, sour, bitter medium long ending.
■ SERVING: ⇗ • large glass (Bordeaux) • 18°C
♣ ♣ ♣ (XXL) KORLAT MERLOT 2012 Supreme – BADEL 1862/BENKOVAC WINERY
■ ORIGIN: Dalmatian hinterland, Benkovac-Stankovci
■ VINEYARD: Korlat • height above sea level: cca 300 m • soil: plenty of stone • variety: Merlot • reduced yield • handpicked • grape selection • approach in the vineyard: conventional
■ CELLAR, maturation: wooden barrels
■ LABEL: superior with controlled geographic origin • dry • 13,5 %
■ BOTTLED in: 0,75 ℓ • bottle, model: Bordeaux • modified – low and heavy • CAP: cork – serious – quite long
■ DESIGN: decent • label: engraved – innovative / original – recognisable from afar – in two sections – readability: good
Wine is complex, meaty, serious, spruced up, but not burdened by time in wood, warm, robust, with plenty of liveliness. Coherent with: typology, age. Goes well with food. Looks ruby-granite, dark. On the nose points to spices – not completely integrated yet, sensation of burning/smoke, chocolate/coffee, then fruitiness. Rounded in the mouth, with lively tannins. Suggest savour, salty, with quality trailing acidity. Potent in body&structure, bitter and quite long warming ending.
■ SERVING: ⇗ ⇒ • large glass (Bordeaux) • 18°C
♣ ♣ ♣ (M) PLAVAC TERRA MADRE 2015 – POLJOPROMET
■ ORIGIN: Komarna
■ VINEYARD, variety: Plavac Mali
■ LABEL: dry • 14,0 %
■ BOTTLED in: 0,75 l • bottle, model: Bordeaux
Wine has recognisable variety and full body, soft, with plenty of fruitiness.
■ SERVING: ⇗ • large glass (Bordeaux) • 16-18°C
Istria and Kvarner
♣ ♣ ♣ (XL) GRAN MALVAZIJA 2013 – CORONICA
■ ORIGIN: Croatian Istria, Western Istria
■ VINEYARD, variety: Istrian Malvazija • approach in the vineyard: nature friendly
■ LABEL: dry • 14,0 %
■ BOTTLED in: 0,75 l • bottle, model: Bordeaux • CAP: serious
■ DESIGN: decent
Wine has character and feels complex, has lovely yellowish-greenish colour, slightly dull no the nose, with ripe fruits, flower notes, touch of honey, very well presented in the mouth, salty, very good in body, lingering in the mouth.
■ SERVING: ⇑ • 14° C
♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ (XXXL) BOŠKINAC 2013 – BOŠKINAC
■ ORIGIN: Pag, Novalja
■ VINEYARD, variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
■ LABEL: dry • 14,5 %
■ BOTTLED in: 0,75 l • bottle, model: Bordeaux • CAP: cork – serious
■ DESIGN: simple – elegant – in black
Wine is typical, character, complex serious, lively, with a fine scent of harmonised mixed fruitiness and spices, chocolate, soft in the mouth, with lively but tamed tannins, with very good trailing acidity, full and stronger body, lingering in the mouth. On the rise.
■ SERVING: ⇗ • uncork bottle several hours before serving wine – decant • large glass (Bordeaux) • 18°C
♣ ♣ ♣ (Xl) TERAN 2013 – BENVENUTI
■ ORIGIN: Croatian Istria, Western Istria
■ VINEYARD, variety: Teran • approach in the vineyard: nature friendly
■ LABEL: dry • 14,0 %
■ BOTTLED in: 0,75 l • bottle, model: Bordeaux • CAP: serious
■ DESIGN: elegant • label: recognisable – readability: some sections more difficult due to small font
Wine is complex, full, with well presented fruit-spice (fine touch of chocolate!) scent, warm in the mouth, lively, well rounded with still lively tannins, pronounced (Teran!) acidity, salty, stronger body, lingering in the mouth. Needs more time.
■ SERVING: ⇗ (fattier meats and warm dishes) • decant • large glass (Bordeaux) • 18° C
Slavonia & Danube area
♣ ♣ ♣ (M) TRAMINER 2016 premium – ILOK CELLARS
■ ORIGIN: Danube, Srijem
■ VINEYARD, variety: Traminer • approach in the vineyard: conventional
■ LABEL: superior • dry • 13,0 %
■ BOTTLED in: 0,75 l • bottle, model: Bordeaux
■ DESIGN: neat • label: overloaded – in two sections – readability: weak
■ QUALITY-PRICE RATIO: good
Wine has recognisable variety, spruced up, drinkable, has complexity, soft and lively. In its prime and can last. Crystal clear straw-yellow colour, finely pronounced lasting scent of spice, flowers, fresh, rounded, salty, good body, medium lingering.
■ SERVIS: ⇑ • medium large glass • 12°C
♣ (XL) TRAMINER 2013 Principovac – ILOK CELLARS
■ ORIGIN: Srijem, Ilok
■ VINEYARD, variety: Traminer
■ LABEL: semi-sweet • 14,5 %
■ CAP: seemed cheap
Wine presents a strong yellow colour, with a strong presentation of caramel notes on the nose and in mouth, quite flat in taste, with bitter ending.
♣ ♣ (S-M) GRAŠEVINA 2016 Liska – BUHAČ
■ ORIGIN: Srijem, Ilok
■ VINEYARD, variety: Graševina
■ LABEL: superior with controlled geographic origin • brut • 11,5 %
Wine is very fresh, lively and pleasant, fruity, mineral, medium body.
■ SERVING: ⇑ (fattier river fish) • 8-10°C
♣ (♣) (M) FRANKOVKA 2015 – PINKERT
■ VINEYARD, variety: Frankovka
■ LABEL: 13,0 %
Wine is simple, fresh, fruity…
■ SERVING: ⇑ • 14-16°C
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