Monthly Archive: July 2024

Celebrating 4 Years of Decanting Monterey!

Today marks the 4th Anniversary of Decanting Monterey, A Central Coast Wine Blog! I am still pursuing my passion to expose others to the depth and quality of our Monterey/Central Coast wines, often under-appreciated by wine snobs.  I like to champion our vintners and their wines out purely as a hobby, not for profit. And I appreciate each and every one of you who are reading my stories!

A BRIEF RECAP OF THE LAST 4 YEARS:

Year 1: Deep in the unvaccinated period of the pandemic in July 2020, Decanting Monterey initially was focused on wines from our own collection sampled at home, with or without our neighboring friends and our daughters, who quickly became known as the COVID Wine Pod. It was 2 posts per week and, mostly, one wine at a time. Back then, some wineries had just reopened with their COVID procedures and we still weren’t venturing out much. I also established the @decantingmonterey Facebook page.

During Year 2, as we became fully vaccinated and boosted – and double boosted, we were able to get out to more local wineries at a more deliberate pace. And the COVID Wine Pod was renamed the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod! I also moved to a single post per week and presented a single wine class to my old DC wine group. Most of the posts were based on event-driven or winery tastings and fewer individual, cellar-driven posts.  And I started the @decanting_monterey Instagram feed.

During Year 3, I was able to get recognition as an entity with some stature behind it. Our local Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society invited me to join them as a Board Advisor. As a result, I arranged 8 of their monthly events. I presented our Monterey wines to 3 classes: in Washington DC, in Northern Virginia, and to the Carmel Rotary! I covered 2 local wine events: the Santa Lucia Highlands Sun, Wind & Wine Festival and the Monterey Winemakers Celebration.

During Year 4, my exposure and stature grew significantly:

  • Decanting Monterey was nominated for Best Local Blog in the Monterey County Weekly’s 2023 “Best of” competition and for Best Monterey Wine Blog for the LUXLife Hospitality Award 2024.

I have some high-level stats to share with you about Year Four of Decanting Monterey!

  • www.decantingmonterey.com surpassed the 15,000 “views” mark! This statistic is very important to me.  If you are seeing my blog on social media or via email, please be sure to click the link and open it!
  • 376 wines were presented on Decanting Monterey for the first time.

  • 292 red wines were presented, as well as 111 whites, 31 rosés, and a few oranges – including 12 sparkling wines. Yes, this is the real math – it includes some wines presented before.
  • Wines from 9 California counties are represented, with 284 from Monterey, 38 from San Luis Obispo (Paso Robles wine country!), 20 from San Benito, 12 from Santa Cruz, and 4 from Santa Clara, and a few from Napa and Sonoma. 

  • In addition, 16 wines carried the Central Coast designation, plus 4 labeled as California wines.
  • Finally, there were 36 wines from Croatia, 6from Spain, and 5 from Oregon!
  • Wines from 8 of the 10 Monterey American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) were covered, with the most from the Santa Lucia Highlands and Carmel Valley.

  • Thanks to the larger tasting events, I presented many, many wineries for the first time and also visited the Austin Harlow and Comanche Cellars tasting rooms for the first time.
Austin Harlow/Mid Life Crisis Wines
Comanche Cellars

If you are an avid reader, then you know I love to read the crop reports.  According to the recently-released 2023 Monterey County Crop Report:

  • Grapes went up in ranking from 7th place from 2022 to 5th place in 2023, behind strawberries, broccoli, and leaf and head lettuces.
  • Acreage of planted grapes declined from 41,480 in 2022 to 40,200 in 2023.
  • Grape crop value increased from $173,789,000 in 2022 to $194,642,000 in 2023. Woohoo!!

While I have some posts already queued up for Year 5, let me ask my mighty readers:  Where should I visit next?  Please leave me a comment on this post and let me know what some of your favorite, local places are to wine taste that I should not miss in Year 3! I have a list of not-yet-covered wine tasting rooms and other wine venues to check out – happy to add to it.  I don’t know what I don’t know. 

And, if you have not signed up for my free, weekly blog email, I encourage you to do so – the subscription button is on the right-hand side of each page of the Decanting Monterey website. I judge how well I am doing by how many views, subscribers, and comments I receive.  Please help me spread the word and please feel free to comment on my posts! And follow my Facebook (@DecantingMonterey) and Instagram (@decanting_monterey) sites.

I don’t want to leave today’s post without expressing my gratitude to those vintners who have comped me wine tastings, given me discounts, and especially those who have donated bottles of wine! I am grateful to Bernardus, Corral Wine Co., McIntyre Vineyards, Parsonage, Rombi and Scheid for their generosity this year in donated wines or steep discounts. Also grateful to Kim Stemler and the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association for their support – what a great resource! And to Erin O’Reilly of tèr·ra·ve·nos for her partnership and advice as we navigate this world of wine.  And, of course, the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod who make this all tons of fun!

So, here we go – Year 5!  I’m not sure I can top Year 4, but I am excited for the upcoming 31st Annual Monterey Winemakers Celebration! Hope to see you there!

And, to all my readers, thanks for your support to me on this crazy journey.

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

I Brand Summer Releases: A Glimpse of the 2023 Vintage!

THE STORY

In June, we made a trip to Carmel Valley Village to taste I Brand & Family Summer 2024 releases. We were happy to see Angie and Monica (welcome back!) in the Tasting Room and timed our visit perfectly.  We were excited to get a glimpse of the 2023 vintage from Monterey County. 

2023 was one of the rainiest, coolest, yet longest growing seasons experienced in recent history. Each vineyard and winemaker needed to determine for themselves how long those grapes could hang, hoping for warm enough weather the reach phenolic perfection. Some winemakers say it was the best vintage, with more ripe flavors shining through, while others have shrugged and said – wait and see.  Ian is all in; I’m still in the wait-and-see category. The proof will be in the final product.

ABOUT I BRAND & FAMILY

I’ve written about I Brand & Family many times in Decanting Monterey. The most recent full post was here: The Latest from I Brand with the Monterey AWS!  The rest you can easily find by typing I Brand in the search bar on www.decantingmonterey.com.

The thing I like about Ian’s approach to winemaking is his pursuit of the undiscovered and daredevil approach to bottle atypical varietals, like the Melon de Bourgogne and the Cachudo, and play around with different techniques and blends, like the Supertoothy. His adventurousness keeps us excited about what he will do next.  Moreover, he spins a fascinating tale about each of these wines which makes being a member extra special. OK, and he throws a great party. I also value that he carefully prices his wine so there is something for every budget. 

p.s. the Melon de Bourgogne comes from the Chalone AVA!

THE WINES – A Glimpse of the 2023 Vintage

I have 8 wines to present to you today from I Brand’s 3 labels: I Brand & Family, La Marea and Paysan.  Winery notes are excerpts from their Summer Release newsletter – become a member to read the whole thing! Any errors are mine and mine alone. Now, for the reviews!

2023 I Brand & Family Arneis, Vista Verde Vineyard, San Benito AVA, San Benito County, 11.9% ABV, $30 (#1397)

Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “Sometimes overlooked in our expensive lineup, our Vista Verde Arneis is absolutely an oddity, but deserves to be seen more than a sidelight…Arneis, limited to the mountainous Piedmont, is highly regarded by those that know, but often falters outside its home range. The small block on Vista Verde, fortified by its calcareous soils, yield a shockingly, faithful reproduction.”

My Review: Pale in the glass, ale on the nose – hops and minerals with a slightly sweet finish. June 2024

2023 La Marea Cachudo, Pierce Ranch, San Antonio Valley AVA , Monterey County, 13.4% ABV, $25 (#1398)

Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “Our ‘Cachudo’ is 97% Arinto from the Pierce Ranch near Lake San Antonio in the Lockwood valley. Arinto is a Portuguese variety known for its highly age worthy and structured whites.…Arinto is sometimes referred to as Cachudo ostensibly for the small protrusions on the ends of its berries in Spanish. Cachudo means having horns.…our Arinto is a resilient wine. It’s a perfect match for the higher elevation valley in the lee of the Coastal Mountains. Redolent with citrus, crest stones, serenity and acid, look for this wine to add a beeswax element if you age it.…”

My Review:  This Portuguese varietal was light gold in the glass. Butter and caramel and orange blossom on the nose. Pink grapefruit and minerality on the palate. We appreciate Ian bringing another varietal to light for us. This is a very tasty wine – we took some home! June 2024

2023 I Brand & Family “Supertoothy” Skin Contact White, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 12.7% ABV, $28 (#1399)

Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “Based around the rare Savignon Gris grape from the calcareous hillside of the Vista Verde Vineyard blended with Verdelho, Pinot Gris and Chenin Blanc, our Supertoothy can be described as ‘responsible orange wine’. Neither cloudy, volatile nor particularly orange, when chilled the Supertoothy does white wine stuff with a little extra action in the back section. As it warms, the complexity and structure steps forward and pairs with more robust foods… The five days of skin contact bring depth of character to the Sauvignon Gris which is supercharged when blended. ‘Toothy’ used to mean, collectible or delicious. This is Supertoothy.…”

My Review:  The color was one shade brown – with flavors of the golden and the orange. “Creamsicle,” Angie said. I got Sauvignon Blanc and bubble gum on the nose. Bubblegum and tart citrus on the palate. June 2024

2023 Paysan Jacks’ Hill Chardonnay, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 13% ABV, $24 (#1400)

Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “This is the latest in string of banner vintages of the Jacks’ Hill Chardonnay. Compared to the last two, it shows more opulent and riper fruit earlier than the ‘21 and ‘22 vintages while carrying a structural and acid backbone similar to the ‘21.…A more joyful expression of the wind, fog and rocky soil that our Jacks’ Hill bottling.”

My Review:  A little sweetness on the nose. Lemon and orange on the palate.  This wine spent time in concrete, stainless steel and neutral oak. Different from the usual Jacks’ Hill. Not as tropical. June 2024

2023 I Brand & Family Melon de Bourgogne, Graff Family Vineyard, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $36 (#1401)

Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “The skins were so thick and developed in 2023 that our skin contact white and gris wines took on substantially more flavor and color than in the past years, yielding a more robust, almost juicy wine. To balance the robust fruit, this vintage carries one of the highest total acid we’ve had on this wine. The result is distinctly in line with the vintage – more of everything…”

My Review:  Light golden in glass. Toast on the nose. Tart on the palate. June 2024

2022 I Brand & Family Pinot Noir, Flint Vineyard, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, 13.2% ABV, $36 (#1402)              

Winemaker’s Notes: “Our second vintage of the Flint Pinot Noir shows the potential of the vineyard, even in a rough vintage for Pinot Noir.… If you like our wines… it’s because, first and foremost, we make sure our vines are on the right soils…I just vastly prefer Pinot Noir on calcareous soils and there isn’t a lot of it on the West Coast.”

My Review:  A little cherry and chocolate. We disagreed with each other on smell and palate. I definitely agree with Ian that some of the region’s best Pinot Noirs come from the limestone soils of Cienega Valley and, let me add, Harlan Mountain AVAs in San Benito County. June 2024

2022 Paysan Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon, San Benito AVA, San Benito County, 12.8% ABV, $27 (#1403)

Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “…Made from vines from the 60’s and 70’s planted in calcareous alluvial deposits on the cooler edge of Cabernet climate, fermented and open top vats with endemic yeast and aged in older casks for less than $30, even the most knowledgeable of wine merchants would be hard pressed to find anything comparable.”

My Review: Pretty garnet in glass. Cherry and dark berry notes on the nose, carrying over to the palate. I really like this bargain wine and would enjoy it as an every day wine. It doesn’t taste like the typical California Cabernet Sauvignon. June 2024

2021 I Brand & Family Cabernet Sauvignon, Bates Ranch, Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, Santa Cruz County, 13.5% ABV, $48 (#1404)

Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “We’re betting heavily on the Stagecoach Block at Bates Ranch…This 2021 version, the second we’ve made for our own label…shows why I’ve been trumpeting 2021 as the most age-worthy vintage I’ve worked. This wine is damn tasty unreleased and will only get better. You could pay a whole lot more for Cabernet with less pedigree and potential, but why would you?”

My Review: Cinnamon and spice on the nose. We like this wine – an age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon – a superb value. June 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

If you want a glimpse of the 2023 vintage, head on over to the I Brand & Family Tasting Room, located at 19 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Thursday – Monday, 11 am – 5 pm.  Reservations are recommended – more information here.

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

WINE ADVENTURES IN CROATIA BY SEA – POST #2!

THE STORY

This week I am continuing our wine adventures in Croatia from my recent trip with Expanding Horizons and Idle Hour Winery & Kitchen. Please read last week’s post for more about our trip and for the wines we tasted during our first week.  I’ve heavily relied on a website called Wine and More, which is an excellent resource on Croatian wines, their unique varietals, and even planning your trip! Plus, I’ve put information on how to locate and purchase Croatian wines at the end of this post, so keep reading!

Today’s post is about the wines we tasted during our second week, after we got on our private yacht – tasted either on the boat itself or on land at wineries or restaurants. From Split, we went island hopping to Hvar, Vis, and Korčula, and finally back to the mainland to Slano, ending up in Dubrovnik. Next week, I’ll bring you the Idle Hour wines we tasted throughout our adventure. 

Once we boarded the Aurelia, our luxurious Katerina Lines yacht, our Croatian wine experiences this included wines available on the yacht, a winery tour on land, various dinners on land, and a Croatian wine tasting on board hosted by our Idle Hour host, Anna Marie Dos Remedios.

As I mentioned last week, some of the standout Croatian varietals included the white grapes of Malvazija Istarka and Graševina (at times thought to be Riesling) and the red grapes of Teran and Plavac Mali. The delicious red grape Plavac Mali (“little blue”} was long considered to be related to Zinfandel, but in fact, Kastelanski Crljenak, and Tribidrag are the true DNA relatives of California Zinfandel.  You can read more on this controversy HERE.

My Disclaimer: I’m no expert in Croatian wines, so I’m bound to get lots of facts wrong as I try to talk about our experiences and the wines.

WINE ADVENTURES IN CROATIA BY SEA – THE WINES

HVAR

Zlatan Otok: According to Vinum USA: “In 1991 Zlatan Otok winery became the second private winery in Croatia after the country declared its independence. Established by Zlatan Plenković in a picturesque fishing village called Sveta Nedjelja on the Island of Hvar, today Zlatan Otok one of the largest private wineries in Croatia.”

2019 Zlatan Plavac, ZOI Cental and South Dalmatia, 14% ABV, $28 US (#1382)

Winery Notes: “This is wine of dark ruby colour, nice smell and powerful taste that lasts. Wine of rich, layered aromas with notes of Dalmatian herbs, spices and dark fruits like blueberries and plums. It is complex, full-body wine with beautiful accented tannins, well-balanced freshness and alcohol. Wine of exceptional presence on the palate that leaves no one indifferent.”

My Review: We purchased this wine on the boat for enjoyment several evenings in a row.  I can’t believe we didn’t take notes! We recall it being ok.

VIS

Lipanovic Winery: On the island and town of Vis, we walked up a hill to the Lipanović winery housed in the former Yugoslav military tunnels which housed generators to fuel a secret base.  There we tasted the Croatian grapes of Vugava and Plavac Mali grown on the island.  I’ve linked the winery notes in the wine name, but they appear to be for different vintages than what we tasted. Still worth reading!

2023 Lipanović Viški Opol (Rose of Plavac Mali), Vis, Visko Vinogorje Locality Plisko Polje, 13% ABV $10 (#1383)

Winery Notes (2021): “The Vis Opol is a Dalmatian wine with rosy cheeks and a cult status. It is made from the ubiquitous plavac mali grapes. The strong fruity taste and aroma make it the best choice for opening dinners to remember. On hot summer days it glides down your throat like divine nectar so you can (and will!) sip it from brunch to bed. But don’t be fooled by its beautiful pink color as this is not a rosé wine: The Vis Opol is made by extremely short maceration, only five or six hours long!”

My Review: Despite the relatively short maceration of 4-6 hrs, it is still rather dark for a rose. Refreshing summer wine. Grapes and slight cherry notes on the nose. It tastes more alcohol than it is, a bit like a sherry. June 2024

2023 Lipanović Vugava, Vis, ZOI Central and South Dalmatia, 15.2% ABV, $13 (#1384)

Winery Notes (2021): “For thousands of years, Vugava Viška, the queen of wine, has thrived surrounded by the sea and sun-kissed by the Mediterranean sun, a labor of love on an island far from the Croatian mainland. It is characterized by a wonderful natural golden yellow color. Its scent is specific, varied, unobtrusive, pleasant, deep and full. This is a beautifully aged wine with fruity aromas of vineyard peaches, intermingled with the aromas of almonds and oranges, and featuring light notes of rowan, candied orange peel and roasted almonds.”

My Review: A special white wine reminiscent of a Viognier. Pears and apples on the nose. Alcohol is visible on the palate.  A dry wine, with some sweetness to it. Could use a touch of acidity. June 2024

2019 Lipanović Plavac Mali, Vis, ZOI Central and South Dalmatia, 16% ABV, $31 (#1385)

Winery Notes: “There are a lot of plavac wines, but you won’t find one like this anywhere. Only the plavac mali from Vis is immersed in the sandy soil with deep horizons, which enriches the grapes with the moisture from below in periods when not a drop of rain falls on the island. It is characterized by a deep ruby color, irresistibly pleasant pungency, flaming aromas of overripe dark fruit and an incredibly long finish in the mouth. Did we mention that its strength never falls below 15.1%? No wonder, for only the strong survive on an island!”

My Review: Grown in sandy soil, this wine has a deep ruby color.  Olives and spice with cherry notes and a hint of sulfur. Dry and full bodied, with pepper and earthy notes. Fruity up front and smooth. Very dry on the finish. June 2024

Lunch on the boat was always an opportunity to try some more Croatian wines!

Dvanajščak-Kozol Pinot Crni (Pinot Noir), Okrugli VRH Medimurje (#1386)

My Review: Dried cherry on the nose. Quite tart at first sip, with a little zip to it. Earthy dark plum flavors and more pronounced oak than we might typically see in a US Pinot Noir. June 2024

2018 Dom Kalebić Fameja, Otok Solta, Dalmatian Coast (#1387) Plavac Mali, Tribidrag, Dobričić

My Review: A blend of Zinfandel-related Wines. Dark in the glass. Raisiny on the nose, with stewed prunes and espresso notes. Tasty, with bitter dark chocolate, black ground pepper and mint flavors on the palate.  Very smooth, with a dry finish – a Sharon kind of wine. June 2024

MLJET

On the island of Mljet, we took the crew’s recommendation to eat at the highly rated Konoba Galija. The upstairs location added an elegance, along with amazing sunset views.  We chose one red and one white to accompany our diverse meal.

Matuško Plavac Mali, ZOI Central and South Dalmatia, 12.5% ABV, $20 (#1388)

My Notes: Dusty, chocolate milk on the nose with light plum flavors. Lower alcohol. June 2024

Konobu “Galija” Pošip, OPC Juko Peselj, Korčula, 13.5% ABV (#1389)

My Notes:  Honey, lemon and minerality on the nose. Full of flavor on the palate with a salt water twist at the end. June 2024

CROATIAN WINE TASTING ON THE BOAT: One evening, our host, Anna Marie, did an excellent tasting for us of four Croatian wines which she had selected and brought on the boat:

2022 Vinerija Dingač Plavac Mali, ZOI Central and South Dalmatia, 12.5% ABV, $20/$35 US (#1390)

Potomac Wines: “This is the most traditional wine among our offerings from the famed Dingač vineyard on the steep coast in Southern Dalmatia. No barrique (oak) was used, only the best Plavac Mali fruit fermented and matured in large barrels. The winery stopped using donkeys to haul the harvested grapes some time ago. They advanced from workers in the field to mascots on the label.”

My Notes: Arriving late from dinner, we almost missed this wine in the Croatian wine tasting.  Anyway, I enjoy a good Plavac Mali! June 2024

2021 Kastel Sikuli Kaštelanski Crljenak, ZOI Coastal Croatia, 14.5% ABV, $40 (#1391)

About Kastel Sikuli: “Kastel Sikuli is a family boutique winery that has been producing wine since 2019., ie the 2018 harvest. The winery owns a vineyard in Kaštel Novi on 13.000 square meters and two smaller vineyards in dalmatian inland with 3000 vines…”

Winery Notes (not vintage-specific): “Completely ruby ​​color. At the beginning, the aroma is dominated by spices, pepper, vanilla, prunes, later aromas of red berries, mostly blueberries, develop. In the taste of prunes and berries, dried figs in the aftertaste. The tannins are velvety, the finish is dry, medium to long. The freshness is nicely expressed. Serious wine, which will show itself in full glory with the passage of time, the potential for aging for at least 3 to 5 years.”

My Notes: This tasted the closest to an American Zinfandel of all the Croatian wines we have tasted. I liked this wine – perhaps my favorite of the entire journey. June 2024

2019 Grgić Plavac Mali, ZOI Central and South Dalmatia, 15.5% ABV, $49 (#1392)

Winery Notes (about the 2016 Vintage): “The grapes of this wine have been selected from the best wineyards in the well-known locations of Dingac and Postup on the Pelješac peninsula. The wine has been produced according to the methods of Miljenko Grgić and under his supervision. He is known in California and in the world as one of the best producer of Chardonnay and Zinfandel. The fermentation of the grapes has been done with naturals yeast but at a controlled temperature which help to keep much of the wine’s variety character and fruitness. After the fermentation the wine has been aging for 15 months in special oak barrels imported from France. The wine received a pleasant oak aroma from the barrels. The process has continued for two years in 0,75L bottles, where the aromas married and harmonized and flavor softened….It is with gentle tannins and pleasant blackberry and Dalmatian flowers aromas.

My Notes: Upon opening, this was a big, rough and alcoholic raisiny wine.  It readily opened up, releasing dark, jammy fruit with spearmint on the finish. For many participants, this was their favorite wine of the tasting. June 2024

2021 Rizman Tribidrag, ZOI Central and South Dalmatia, 13.5% ABV, $26 (#1393) 85% Tribidrag (Zinfandel) and 15% Tempranillo – a unique combo!

Winery Notes: “Forward and expressive showing an abundance of ripe dark brambly fruits, raisins and prunes as well as dried herbs and sweet spices. On the palate it is well structured, displays ripe and juicy fruit underpinned by balancing freshness, followed by lovely complexity.”

My Notes: Super dark in the glass. Licorice on the nose. Grilled peppers and fresh tobacco on the palate. Dark and smokey. We liked this wine. June 2024

AND ANOTHER BOAT LUNCH WITH CROATIAN WINES:

2022 Zlatno Brdo Graševina, Baranja, 13% ABV (#1394)

About Graševina: I encourage you to click the link to learn more about Graševina, as it is the most planted grape in Croatia and was long considered to be related to Riesling, but turns out to be yet another uniquely Croatian grape!

My Notes:  This was our introduction to the Grasevina grape – nice full bodied white grass on the nose. Lots of citrus orange and lemon with tons of minerality. June 2024

Tomić Petar Hektorović Dessert Wine, Hvar, ZOI Central and South Dalmatia, 15.5% ABV, $29 (#1395)

Winery Notes: “Tomić Prošek Hectorovich U.V. on Vivino Prošek is an authentic Croatian dessert wine, made using dried grapes of the finest indigenous Dalmatian varieties. Prošek is a natural sweet wine that originated in the coast…” Made in the same style as a Vin Santo.

My Notes: Curry and caramel on the nose, carrying over to the palate. Very interesting. Better than any other dessert wine or firewater we had on this trip. June 2024

A fun menu in Slon!

2023 Kutjevo Graševina, Slavonija, 13% ABV, $29 (#1396)

Winery Notes: “High quality graševina is the brand of the Kutjevo winery. Grape selection comes from the best apellations of the Kutjevo wine region – Hrnjevac, Vetovo and Vinkomir. Fresh, harmonious and citrus-flavored aromas with hints of green apples and a powerful minerality, long aftertaste that opens the notes of chamomile are charachteristic to this wine.”

My Notes: This was a good quality Graševina which presented more acidic with good minerality. We enjoyed this chilled wine on a hot evening before our last dinner. June 2024

WHERE TO BUY CROATIAN WINES

We had plenty of opportunities to taste Croatian liquors and brandies.

FROM CROATIA DIRECTLY:

A couple of major foreign shops which might export these wines for a fee (might be as much as $20/bottle to get them through customs!!):

Blue Lagoon
Fancy rose-infused drink presentation in Dubrovnik!

US WINE SHOPS:

My searches found a number of US shops selling Croatian wines, which they can ship to you. 1,000 Corks is also a useful resource.

  • High Times Wines in Costa Mesa has the Grgić Plavac Mali along with a number of other Croatian wines – probably the best collection in California.
  • K&L Wine Merchants carries some (for us Californians).
  • Potomac Wines carries the Vinerija Dingač Plavac Mali we had in the tasting plus a few other Croatian wines.
  • Astor Wines in NYC has a good selection and great prices.
  • I found the Zlatan Otok Plavac from Yannis winery via Vivino here!
  • And Plum Market online also has a large selection!
  • The Liquor Junction in Massachusetts has the Volarević Plavac Mali I liked so much from dinner with our friends in Split.

If anyone has any other knowledge on finding Croatian wines in the US, please leave a comment!

© Decanting Monterey 2023

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Wine Adventures in Croatia – By Land and By Sea!!

When we were first approached by Anna Marie Dos Remedios, co-owner and winemaker at Idle Hour Winery & Kitchen, about going on some wine adventures in Croatia, I got pretty excited. We had a marvelous experience with Expanding Horizons once before and Croatia has looked so beautiful from the pictures of many friends. Plus, fun fact: I studied Serbo-Croatian literature in college! So I am stepping away from California’s Central Coast for the next 2 weeks to talk about another country’s coastal wines!

I didn’t know much about Croatian wines, but we were so pleasantly surprised by the quality and diversity of the exceptional wine experiences we encountered during our two-week trip. We spent one week traveling by bus to the Plešivica wine region, the Plitvice Lakes National Park, and the Istrian Peninsula before making our way down the coast to Zadar and Split. From there, we boarded the Aurelia, our private Katerina Lines yacht, island hopping to Hvar, Vis, Korčula, back to the mainland at Slano, and finally ending up in Dubrovnik.

I found a couple of good overview articles about Croatian wine: A Top to Bottom Tour of Croatia’s Wine-Soaked Coastline and Croatian Wine – Everything You Need to Know. The second reference is for a website called Wine and More, which is an excellent resource on Croatian wines, their unique varietals, and even planning your trip!

Although we got to know Croatian wines during our trip, but we got to know them them fairly well during our visit. I’m bound to get lots of facts wrong as I try to talk about our experiences and the wines. My reviews have at times been colorfully supplemented by our traveling partners, whom I have named the Decanting-Monterey-in-Croatia Wine Pod. 😊

Some of the standout varietals included the white grapes of Malvazija Istarka and Graševina, and the red grapes of Teran and Plavac Mali. The delicious red grape Plavac Mali (“little blue”) was long considered to be related to Zinfandel, but in fact, Kastelanski Crljenak, and Tribidrag are the true DNA relatives of California Zinfandel.  You can read more on this controversy HERE.

Sadly, we learned that many Croatian wines are not exported to the US and it seems the wineries do not directly ship here. Thank you, COVID. There are a couple of overseas websites where you can order directly, but they will have to add on about $20/bottle for shipping and US customs!  But, if you hunt hard enough (I did!), you will find several US wine shops that carry and ship Croatian wines, thus saving you some of the added cost. Be sure to read next week’s post where I’ll tell you all about it!

I’ll be breaking this experience into 3 posts:  Wines we consumed while on the mainland, ones we tasted after we got on the yacht, and the Idle Hour wines from California we tasted throughout our adventure. I will include links to the wineries where I can find them. To save space, I’ll try to provide links where you can find the winery descriptions of their wines. ZOI is the abbreviation for Zaštićena oznaka izvornoti (Protected mark originality – the wine region it is from). I found this informative map of the major Croatian wine regions on Wine Folly:

Here we go!

WINE ADVENTURES IN CROATIA – BY LAND

ZAGREB

Our friends who joined us on this trip had traveled far and wide to end up in Zagreb the Le Premier Hotel. Since none of us live close to each other, we decided to meet up in the hotel bar for a kick-off celebration before dinner.

Tomac Diplomat Extra Brut, ZOI Plešivica, 12.5% ABV, $37 (#1361) 100% Chardonnay

My Review: Tiny bubbles in the glass.  Pink grapefruit up front with a square body. Very balanced in flavors with a slightly yeasty finish. May 2024

Our first group dinner was at the restaurant Kapitolska Klet, where we enjoyed these wines:

2019 Korlat Syrah, ZOI Dalmatian Hinterland, 13.5% ABV, $15 (#1362)

My Review: Inky in the glass. Crushed berries on the nose. Dark flavors on the palate with prune and stem notes. Smooth tannins on the finish. A very dark wine. May 2024

2019 Matuško Dingač, ZOI Peljesac Peninsula, Central and South Dalmatia, 14.5% ABV  $21 (#1363)

2019 Matuško Dingač

My Review: Berries including strawberry on the nose.  This wine elicited a “wow” from our table. Tons of heavy dark fruit, vanilla and maple on the finish.  Has some dessert wine qualities – in a good way. Tastes high alcohol. May 2024

2023 Kozlović Muškat Momjanski, ZOI West Istria, 12% $16 (#1364) Semisweet

My Review: Pale in the glass. Lychee on the nose. A touch of sweetness and vaguely citrusy on the palate.  Not cloying and presented slightly fizzy. Could be more acidic and colder. May 2024

KORAK FAMILY ESTATE

Our first winery visit was Korak Family Estate, outside of Zagreb along the Pleševice Wine Road.  They make elegant Burgundian varietals which can be sampled along with a Michelin Star lunch! That was such a great start to our trip.  The setting was lovely and the small winery produced delicious wines. I would highly recommend this experience if you are near Zagreb. You can find winery notes for these wines here.

NV Korak Family Estate Brut Nature, Laškovec i Križevac, ZOI Plešivica, 12.5% ABV, $27 (#1365) 50% Pinot Crni (Pinot Noir) & 50% Chardonnay

My Review: Fine bubbles crisp and delicious. Graphite, mineral, not a lot of distinctive flavor. Served with sourdough bread, sourdough bread chips, fresh cheese, butter and cured meat. May 2024

2023 Korak Rajnski Rizling (Rhine Riesling), Laškovec, ZOI Plešivica 12.5% ABV, $24 (#1366)

My Review: Pale golden. A slightly sweet nose of pear and honeysuckle. Surprisingly acidic. Made in a style to be very fresh. As it warmed up, lemon curd. The wine was nicely paired with a green bean/prosciutto dish with a bitter orange cream sauce. May 2024

2022 Korak Sur Lie Chardonnay, Laškovec, ZOI Plešivica, 14% ABV, $29 (#1367)

My Review: Golden and viscous in the glass. Candied pineapple, melon, pear, and oak on the fresh nose. Lemon-infused butterscotch. Sweet pineapple and pop rocks on the palate with a long finish. A lot going on. Very tasty. Our favorite so far. Served with black tortellini filled with fresh ricotta with sliced dried garlic and peppered with truffles. May 2024

2023 Korak Sauvignon Blanc, Kamenice, ZOI Plešivica 13% ABV, $27 (#1368)

My Review: Pale yellow in the glass. Grassy pineapple on the nose. Citrus on the finish. Accompanied by peas in a smoked beurre blanc. May 2024

2022 Korak Pinot Crni (Pinot Noir), Krizevac i Cimbuscak, ZOI Plešivica, 13.5% ABV, $27 (#1369)

My Review: Light cherry and rose petal with a hint of cinnamon, vanilla and clove on the nose. A palate of light cherry and red berries with a peppery/cinnamon dry finish accompanied by soft tannins. Accompanied by smoked and roasted squab breast with horseradish and spices plum and onion chutney. May 2024

ON THE MOVE TO PLITVICE LAKES

On our way to the Plitvice Lakes National Park, we stopped for lunch at Ambar Restaurant where we enjoyed 2 wines:

NV Kolarić Coletti Brut Blanc, ZOI Plešivica (#1370)

My Review: Active bubbles and champagne color in the glass.  A yeasty nose.  We all guessed this was made sur lie for sure. May 2024

2018 Adžic Vallis Aurea Pinot Crni (Pinot Noir), ZOI Vinogorje Kutjevo, Slavonija, 13.5% ABV, $15 (#1371)

My Review: Wood and dark fruit including some cherry on the nose.  Nose follows over to the palate. May 2024

ISTRIAN PENINSULA

Our first night in Opatija, we experienced an amazing sea-front dinner at the Bevanda Restaurant. The sommelier stopped by to tell us about each wine. You can read more about varietals from the Istrian Peninsula in these Decanter articles: Istrian Authenticity: 15 Malvazija and Teran wines to try and Istria for wine lovers.

Franković Stella Brut Sparkling Wine, ZOI Istria, $17 (#1372) Malvasia and Chardonnay

My Review: Pale in the glass. Wet grass on the nose. Freshly mowed grass on the palate. Spritzy on the palate. Close to a Prosecco. May 2024

2023 Stina Pošip, ZOI Central & South Dalmatia, 13.5% ABV, $40 (#1373)

My Review: The label on this wine is like white on white stone. The only notes I took were that it has a lemony finish. May 2024

2023 Terdzo Malvazija Istarka (#1374)

My Review: Yellow in color. Smells like a Viognier. Slightly sweet in aroma and on the palate with lemon notes. Viscous in the glass and on the tongue. Reminded us of a Rhône wine. May 2024           

Šipun Sansigot,  ZOI Istria & Kvarner, 12% ABV, $21 (#1375) (vintage not visible)

My Review: Oak and vanilla on the nose. Dark fruit including plum and violet. Made on island Krk. I loved this wine. Very young for us to be drinking. The sommelier said lots of tannin, but I think it is drinking fine. May 2024

TOMAZ WINERY

Our second winery visit was at the Tomaz winery, at the base of the hilltop village of Motovun. 

About Tomaz: “FRAMELESS WINES: On heavy, loamy, and marly soils in the unique climate of the Mirna river, the Tomaz family cultivates vines in harmony. Motovun, well-known for its truffles and Motovun forest, is the birthplace of these unique works of art, the frameless wines.”

We tasted only the Croatian varietals of Malvazija and Teran, which they grow on their estate.  They also purchase grapes from others to make other wines. You can find winery notes on their website and on Croatia Reveled – Tomaz. If you want to order Tomaz (or other wines) through Croatia Revealed, the process is to send them an email at  info@croatiarevealed.com.  As mentioned above, it costs about $20/bottle to process through shipping and US Customs!!

2023 Tomaz Flaminio Rosé, ZOI Hrvatska Istra, 12% ABV, $13 (#1376) Teran grape

My Review: Almost a pale orange in the glass. Faint orange on the nose like a sweet orange hard candy. A tiny bit of effervescence on the tongue. Sweet on the palate with a lemony pop finish. Food pairings smooth out the tartness. May 2024

2023 Tomaz Avangarde Malvazija Istarka, ZOI Hrvatska Istra, 13% ABV, $14 (#1377)

My Review: Light yellow in the glass. Orange blossom and minerality on the nose. Yu can taste the influence of the Adriatic carried by a light wind and the Istrian mountain air mixing with the grapes to create a sensuous swirl on the palate. It is in and of its place. Some residual sugars. A little bit of a sherry taste to it. Would pair well with fish. May 2024

2020 Tomaz Sesto Senso Malvazija Istarka, ZOI Hrvatska Istra, 13.5% ABV, $24 (#1378)

My Review: 6 months in French oak and 6 months in Istrian oak. Yellow in color. Bananas and a little grilled pineapple on the nose. Sour dates and honey on the viscous palate. Very flavorful. May 2024

2020 Tomaz Barbarossa Teran, ZOI Hrvatska Istra, 14% ABV, $24 (#1379)

My Review: 12 months in French oak. Beautiful in the glass – purple. Velvet. Perfume, Moroccan spices, black plum and jammy berries and alcohol on the nose. the initial jammy berries (Goji berries) are sandpapered away by the hidden tannins, finishing with a ton of cinnamon. Needs more time in the bottle. May 2024

2023 Tomaz Dolce Anima Muškat Bijeli, ZOI Hrvatska Istra, 12.5% ABV, $14 (#1380)

My Review: Diluted honey and elderflower on the nose. For a semisweet wine, this one is not cloying at all. It has enough acid to make it appear dry amongst the sweetness. May 2024

SPLIT

Our last night on land was in the beautiful city of Split, where we stayed in the Jupiter Luxury Hotel inside Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO Heritage Site.  If that wasn’t special enough, we stumbled into a perfect little restaurant only steps from the hotel, where we became fond of the grape Plavac Mali. 

2019 Volarević Syrtis Plavac Mali, ZOI Central & South Dalmatia, 15.5% ABV, $15/$35 US (#1381)

My Review: Rich garnet in color. Cherry licorice and vanilla on the nose. Dark cherry, cedar, and a burst of bright jam on the tannic finish. They say if you like California Zinfandel, Croatian Plavac Mali will ring your chimes. We really liked this wine. May 2024

I’ve actually found this wine available for sale in the US and am inquiring if we can get it shipped to California. More next week!

*Be sure to read next week’s post with more wine adventures in Croatia – and where to find them from the US!*

© Decanting Monterey 2023

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

SIGN UP HERE TO GET Decanting Monterey DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR EMAIL!!

Don't miss a single exciting post about our Central Coast/Monterey wines! Enter your email address below for a free subscription to Decanting Monterey. Be sure to open the confirmation email and validate your subscription! See you soon!!

Verified by MonsterInsights