London Wine Fair: Croatia
Zlatan Otok makes some interesting wines on the Croatian island of Hvar. The white Pošip is pretty good and their Plavac Mali, in various guises, ranges from the meaty to the tannic. The Crljmenak [Primitivo] 2008 was also pretty good. I thought that Gracin made an interesting red from the Babić variety. I also had a look through the wines of Korta Katarina in southern Dalmatia – lively whites from the Pošip grape and gamey, forest floor Plavac Mail from Dingac and Postup. These wines are clearly only a fractional snapshot of what is going in Croatia.
Zlatan Otok, Pošip 2010
Straw; quite fruity and perfumed, almost pine notes reminiscent of a good Greek white; nice intensity on the palate; persistent and good grip. 88/100
Zlatan Otok, Pošip 2009
Golden straw; ripe, slightly stronger nose; some apple and apricot; bit animal too. Less life and vibrancy than 2010. 86/100
Zlatan Otok, Plavac Mali, 2008
Mid red, ripe, some raisin qualities; easy. 85/100
Zlatan Otok, Crljmenak [Primitivo], 2008
Deep and intense; some cherry, ripe and intense nose; good depth of flavour on the palate, easy and almost exotic. This works. Interesting. 88+/100
Zlatan Otok Plavac, Hvar, Sveta Nedjlja, 2008
Deep and meaty; ripe almost raisiny nose; a bit of a southern Rhone crossed with something Tuscan. Finishes rather tannic and dry. 84/100
Zlatan Otok Plavac, Hvar, Sveta Nedjelja
Meaty and deep black centre; lifted and ripe nose; sexy and exotic; like Zinfandel almost [Plavac is relative of Zin]; rich and exotic palate; good grip and nice palate. Good. 88+/100
Gracin, Babić 2008
Dark, black; sexy open nose; quite undergrowth with wild strawberry fruit; palate has weight and alcohol but also some tannic chew. 14.5% 87+/100
Korta Katarina, Pošip, 2009
Pale straw; fresh spiky nose; some perfume; fruit too. 87+/100
Korta Katarina, Pošip, 2008
Pale straw; some wax and spice; easy palate, quite zesty. Goodish 86+/100
Korta Katarina Plavac Mali 2007 [from Dingac and Postup]
Mid red; some really savoury notes; open ripe and rich; goodish grip; easy and open. Warm. 85+/100
Tags: Babić, Crljmenak, Croatia, Korta Katarina, London Wine Fair, Plavac Mali, Pošip, Primitivo, Zlatan Otok