I am in Croatia, and while I am here, I am trying to understand a bit about Croatian wine. There are international varieties, such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet, but also quite a few local varieties. The good thing is that all the wines I have encountered are dry, and pretty well made. On the other hand, most are a little straightforward.
On the Islands of Hvar and Vis, the main variety is Plavac Mali. This is a cross between Zinfandel and the local Dobričić variety. The berries are small, and the yields low on the stony hills of the islands. Croatia claims it is the original home of Zinfandel. A very good wine I tasted was the 2015 Ivan Dolac Plavac Mali.
This wine is full-bodied, with dark cherry and blackberry flavours. There are strong earthy savoury notesand wet stone flavours. This delivers an attractive mouthfeel, although not totally balanced.
The wine ends with a lasting smoky finish.Score: 90/++
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