Iuris Plavac Mali Jenaro Vala 2010

Drink now through to 2028. Decant 2 hours before serving.

Fans of Italian Primitivo or Californian Zinfandel will love this hearty red from Dalmatia which is made with the indigenous Croatian Plavac Mali grape. Thought to be a cross between the ancestral Zinfandel and Primitivo vine and an ancient Croatian variety called Dobričić, today Plavac Mali is regarded as the superstar grape of sunny Dalmatia.

Winemaker Domagoj Klasiček sources the grapes for this sensational bottling from the island of Brač just off the coast from the historic city of Split. The warm sunny climate here is moderated by cooling breezes from the sea which help to create a rich, full bodied wine with fresh acidity to balance those bold, jammy fruit flavours.

Following vinification in wooden barrels, Domagoj ages this wine in Slavonian and American oak barrels for a total of 24 months to fully integrate the flavours and smooth out Plavac Mali’s robust tannins. After additional 12 months of beauty sleep in the bottle the wine is finally ready for release. This unrushed approach is also the best way to enjoy this wine which has the potential to age beautifully over the next decade or so. When you do decide to drink it, remember to decant the wine a couple of hours before to reveal the intricate layers of complexity hidden inside the bottle.