Kosovec Frankovka Moslavina 2019

Oh, to be 18 again. While most teenagers are flirting with their future, Ivan Kosovec was taking deliberate steps to actualize his as a star winemaker in inland Croatia. After aiding his grandfather in the family vineyard as a young man, he attended oenology school in Istria and bought 4 hectares of pristine land in 2003 with the help of his family, eventually planting 3 hectares of vineyards with a total of 18,000 vines in one of the most esteem plots in the Moslavina region. The family is steadfast in their commitment to minimal intervention and a natural approach in the vineyard, farming organically, encouraging small yields with only minimum use of copper and sulfur for protection against fungal diseases. They do not use any synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides, opting to use only organic fertilizers, humus, and green manuring when possible. Furthermore, the family does not utilize added yeasts, enzymes or any other additives, choosing not to fine or filter the wines to showcase the singular character of their unique terroir. This frankovka (perhaps you know her by her alias blaufrankisch) hails from 16-year-old vines from sandy loam soils and is hand harvested, destemmed, and delicately pressed - leading to a 21 day maceration and spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts. Aged for 12 months in stainless steel, it is unfined and unfiltered with minimal added SO2. Fresh and approachable, this wine blossoms on the palate with fleshy red fruit and an oversteeped rosehip tea-like tannin. Soft and supple, it lingers on the finish with a whisper of cinnamon and worn leather. Organically grown, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan.