Gianfranco Kozlović did not only change the bottle for the new Santa Lucia Malvazija, now a Burgundy type. Mr Kozlović also burgundised the style of one of the most appreciated Istrian and Croatian wines. We tasted the Santa Lucia 2015 for the first time in the company of Kozlović in February of this year, while it was quite unfinished, but it demonstrated substantial potential for change. We used the opportunity to discuss with the most successful Istrian winemaker about the further development directions of Istrian Malvazija.
Santa Lucia 2015, which we tasted yesterday in Johnson in its mostly finished form, points to one of the possible style directions of aged Malvazijas. It is rich, creamy, oily and perfectly smooth, while at the same time nervously fresh and mineral: this is how we generally describe textures and structures of wine from Puligny Montrachet. It is important that Santa Lucia in this genre switch not only kept, but accented typical variety characteristics such as the aromas of acacia and white peaches, as well as a slight almond bitterness in taste.
The Santa Lucia 2015 is certainly one of the best Croatian wines which appeared on the market today. It is an intense, graceful, stylishly courageous and technically flawless. We will see if the Burgundy halo of this great wine will influence other Istrian producers of ripe Malvazijas.
This Santa Lucia 2015 went great with scampi, bonito and Zeus Faber in Johnson. We would recommend it with all large fish, crabs and superior chicken, if available anywhere.
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