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