2018 Skaramuča Plavac Premium Kvalitetno Vino, Croatia, Pelješac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Plavac Mali is an offspring of Zinfandel (confirmed by DNA testing).  It is one of the most important native grapes to Croatia.  Garnet/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is earthy with cherries, black cherries and slight black pepper.  Light to medium bodied.  On the palate, nice cherry and black cherry fruit with some pepperiness.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work with food.  Spicy tacos are a difficult match but would work well.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

1989 Château Angélus, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1989
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$550.00USD

This is drinking great right now.  Mature, but absolutely no hurry.  Decanted for sediment and served.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  No browning.  The nose is classic with cherries, cassis, tobacco, leather, slight funk and cigar box.  Full bodied.  Light but present tannins.  On the palate, lots of cherries, black cherries and cassis with earthiness and spice underneath.  Layers of complexity.  Great balance.  Long finish.  Contemplative.  Great on its own, this would work great with slow braised beef.  Based on this bottle, at least a decade left.  

2018 Château de L'Hoste Blanc Classique, France, Bordeaux, Entre Deux Mers, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

A nice white from Bordeaux.  A blend of Sémillon 20%,  Sauvignon Blanc 40%, Sauvignon Gris 30%, and Muscadelle 10%.  Medium golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a nice lemon streak with a Schist rock quality to it.  On the palate, this has a slightly oily texture.  Lemon fruit although there is a bit of a bitter quality especially on the finish.  Also a touch of lemon candy.  Drinking well now, but this probably should be consumed in the next year or so.  Nice on its own, it will work with lighter foods.  

2018 Jako Stina Cuvée White, Croatia, Brač, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

From the island of Brac in the Adriatic Sea, this white wine is a blend of Pošip 70%, Chardonnay 20%, Vugava 10%. It is done in Stainless steel.  12.5% ABV. Light green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is light with some tropical fruits and citrus and a bit of salinity.  Very clean.  On the palate, this has a nice minerality.  Also, a slight husk cherry (those little yellow berries with the husks on them) quality.  This wine does seem to have a hint of noticeable residual sugar.  Overall, it is very easy to drink on its own and will work well with sea food.  

2018 Jakopic Pušipel Classic, Croatia, Zagorje-Medjimurje, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is 100% Pušipel which is another name for Moslavac, Šipon, Mosler, or Furmint.  It is light golden in color with the slightest copper hue to it.  The nose is interesting with some pear but also some hay and a slight melon note.  On the palate, this turns more to tart grapefruits with a bit of an herbal streak.  The wine itself is weighty with a perception of sweetness yet it drinks tart.  Looking it up later, there is apparently 7.7 g/l of residual sugar.  The finish does have just a hint of sweetness that gets lost among the tart grapefruit notes.  12% ABV on the label.  Another very

2015 Zlatan Otok Plavac, Croatia, Hvar, Plenkovic, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

This is 100% Plavac Mali from the island of Hvar in Croatia.  Zlaton Otok is one of the larger wineries in Croatia.  This is purple in color, ruby at the rim and mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has some barnyard along with ripe cherry fruit.  On the palate, it drinks a bit cleaner with straightforward cherry fruit.  Moderate finish.  This is pleasurable and drinks easy.  It will work better with a burger or some pizza.  It probably should be drunk in the next few years.  

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