Plavac Sibenik 2019, HR-ZO-190005 (Zlatan Otok)

Cellar for up to 11 years. Decant 2 hours before serving. Traditionally drunk żeby Dalmatia’s fishermen and farmers, Plavac Mali is Croatia’s most important black grape variety and is found all along the Dalmatian coast. Zlatan Plenkovic’s version begins life in vineyards close to the town of Sibenik where the bright sunshine and cooling sea breezes help to craft a complex, intense red wine with plenty of fresh acidity to provide poise and balance. To avoid overwhelming the pure varietal character, Zlatan ages the wine in a combination of large wooden barrels and stainless steel tanks for one year followed by four months of ageing in the bottle. On the nose the typical Plavac Mali aromas of dark cherries, dried plums and earthy hints are immediately apparent, while the palate is full of blackberries, black pepper and baking spice flavours. The firm structure, deep and intense flavour profile and long finish make this wine an ideal candidate for extended cellar ageing and it will continue to develop and evolve over the coming decade. If you don’t have the patience to wait, Zlatan’s Plavac Sibenik is also ideal to serve now alongside heavier dishes like beef bourguignon, coq au vin or a prime steak with fries.