Roxanich Merlot 2011

Cellar for up to 9 years. Decant 1 hour before serving.

Inspired by his travels to wine regions all over the globe, Mladen Rožanić crafts stunning natural wines from both traditional Croatian grape varieties and international varieties which he carefully selects to suit the climate and soil conditions of western Istria. This sublime Merlot is a nod to the delicious reds of Bordeaux’s Right Bank while retaining its own unique personality thanks to the local terroir and Mladen’s minimal intervention approach to winemaking.

After the harvest and fermentation with wild yeasts, Mladen ages this Merlot in large wooden casks for a total of 6 years followed by two years in the bottle before it is ready for release. The result is a charming natural wine which opens with complex aromas of cherry liqueur, rose hip, graphite and leather. On the palate the fruity character of the wine is dominant with luscious dark plum, mulberry and blueberry flavours perfectly balanced by an elegant acidity, smooth mouthfeel and firm tannins which suggest this wine will continue to develop and evolve for years to come. If you are eager to drink it now, try pairing it with hearty game or beef dishes to complement the robust flavours and structure of the wine.

Another advantage of Mladen’s natural and organic winemaking methods is that this bottling contains very low quantities of sulphur dioxide, less than 20mg per litre, which means that it is an ideal option for those with sensitivities to sulphites.