Zlatan 'Bilo Idro' Plavac Mali Dalmatia 2021

Following the declaration of Croatian independence in 1991, Zlatan Plenković established Zlatan Otok, becoming just the second private winery in Croatia and eventually one of the largest in the country. The rocky and rugged vineyards lie off of the Dalmatian Coast on the island of Hvar, in a quaint and picturesque fishing village known as Sveta Nedjelja. The baton has now been passed on to his two sons, Nikola and Marin, and winemaker Davor, who are working to craft wines from indigenous grapes from clay and limestone rich soils. Altitude here ranges from roughly 50 to 300 meters above sea level, with the grapes enjoying a beautiful sea view and warm, sunkissed days that tend to be some of the warmer in Northern and Central Dalmatia. Farming is all organic and grapes are hand harvested before seeing 8-days of skin-contact in stainless steel. Fermentation is spontaneous and the wine is aged for 18 months in stainless steel tanks, after which it is coarsely fined, not filtered. Fresh, juicy, and approachable, this is the glass you’d want to be sipping on at Bilo Idro, the restaurant/wine bar for whom this wine is named after. Just barely overripe blueberries and dark red cherries offer a fresher, lighter take on plavac mali, usually known for a more buttoned-up, robust profile. Chill or don’t, delicious either way. Slam back with M.O.D’s single dutch or chicken tenders. Organically grown, low-intervention/natural wine