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EP 798 Tasting Wines From Croatia

Gary and guest Cliff Rames, who’s spreading the word about Croatian wines and grape varietals, taste through 4 different and interesting bottles.

Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Bibich Debit Lucica
2007 Ottocento Crno
2006 Bura Plavac Mali
2006 Enjingi Riesling

Links mentioned in todays episode.


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luca bercelli

89/100

Good info, nice variety of wines but the guest was a little too laid back and quiet to really knock me out

Tags: Croatia, red, review, white, wine, wines

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  • QFT, I snapped this baby today just for disqus

  • danoeno

    Cliff and Gary – great job! THANK YOU for a great representation of the region and the wines.

    We have several dedicated small importers working to spread the word about Croatian wine; Blue Danube Wine Co (CA), Oenocentric (NY/NJ), and Vinum USA (NY/NJ). Clai is imported by Louis/Dressner (NY). The importers are very passionate about the wines, the native varietals, and the young, energetic, imaginative, and vibrant winemakers who produce these wines and have a bright future ahead of them.

    I hope everyone who watches this tries a wine from Croatia soon. Also, do yourself a favor and one day and visit the beautiful Istrian and Dalmatian Coast and try these wines in their native habitat.

    Keep in mind that several of these wines are the “premium” wines from these producers; Bibich, for example, produces a simple, fresh Debit that is available at an affordable price ($15).

    Zivjeli! Cheers!

  • jtmac

    Awesome show! Great guest and highly informative.
    QOTD: never experienced a Croatian wine.

  • Lyman

    GV, I was wondering if you have come across Mike Grgich's Croatian venture, Grgic Vina, in your store or your travels. I have to admit that my first exposure to wines from Croatia were the wines mentioned in George Taber's book “Judgment of Paris”, when Mike Grgich talked about his speculation that Plavac Mali and Zinfandel were from the same family.
    Mr. Rames was a great guest and shows why your show is a valuable resource to the true wine geeks of your audience.

  • Braden G

    Another stellar show GV! Mr. Rames brought some serious thunder with his passion and knowledge.

    Mott – “it smells like wine”… nice little poke there 😉

    QOTD – never seen a Croatian wine on the shelves here let alone tried one, and that makes me sad.

  • QOTD: tried a Plavac Mali (don't remember the winery) about 10 years ago. It was meh.

    So, how many episodes have we had this year? And how many guests?

    So much for that resolution.

    To really “Crush It”, one of the simplest but hardest thing one can do is to do what you say you are going to do. It's called integrity.

    Edwardo

  • Gary,
    Any idea where we can get our hands on some of the Ottocento Crno? If/when you find out, can you post it here. Thanks!!!

  • Little Jonny H

    Excellent Stuff! What a great learning experience, and I'm excited to get my mitts on a Croatian red in the near future.

    QOTD: Not yet…!

  • I really enjoyed this episode. Great guests, new wines added to the repertoire, etc. For some reason, with you both excited about the wine I had to run out and grab a bottle. I didn't seek out any Croatian wine but I did purchase a wonderful petite syrah that I've never had (Big Rock Red). I wish there were more affordable Croatian wines but based on both your reactions, I'll have to seek them out and give them a try.

  • bobbytiger

    32 minutes? No way. Not for a Monday.
    However,
    I decided to give it a go.
    Great show. Cliff was quite the spokesman. Obviously likes his product. Good luck to him and his country's wines, which sound yummy.
    While outside my price-point, am willing to give it a try, if I can find the wine.

  • Your website may be the avatar/icon problem, Gary. I've been commenting for some time, but now you don't recognize me. When I try to register again, it will not allow it because there already is user by that name. Well, yeah. Then sends me an email with link to get emails every time someone makes a comment. Thank you, no. Don't need that blizzard in my mailbox, I'll check the comments at the site when I have time to do so. When lots of long-time posters are having problems, it may be site problem, not fan problem.

  • I love these episodes that are focused on one style or region. Especially when the Iron Sheik makes an appearance. Need to get Ric Flair on the show sometime…

  • castello

    Awesome show. I want to go to Croatia.

  • whiney

    great show Gary and Cliff. i have tried 2 Croatian wines, and both were superb.
    Kozlovic Malvazija'05 and Zlatan Plavac barrique'04
    Cliff is a fine ambassador for the wines of Croatia

  • DAveAll

    pow! That was a good show! zap! 32 minutes. Love that it wasn't a 4 part series. thanks. He was one of few guests that was not intimated by your ADD (Shek) and chatty personality (interrupts, bubbly)
    QOTD: I had to google map it to find the country – anything between Italy and Greece has GOT to have good wine. no?
    p.s. nice subtle message on the chalk board… what? YOu think we'd pick on him also? ha.
    p.s. I've seen all your shows, been posting for a long time, but had to get a new id when you moved to this new commenting thingie. come to North Carolina! (remember me?) Nice to have avatars, dang how did we comment prior? ugh? smile.

  • castello

    Great show, can't wait to try those wines and even go there instead of Italy?

  • flavasauce

    Excellent show! The nerdy stuff is so stimulating and arousing 😉

    QOTD: No I have not but I definitely will.

  • Ron

    Another great show Gary. Cliff was an excellent guest who had so much passion and love for Croatian wine. I'm very intrigued to try any of these wines especially the Ottocento Crno. I will be definitely be looking around for this wine.

    Great job.

  • WineWoman

    I might have had 1 or 2 Croatian wines over the years, but not widely available. A few online wine stores have the Croatian Category sometimes under other regions and might carry 1 Croatian wine. After today's show I definitely want to try some of these wines. It was fun to see the passion Cliff has and for Gary to get so pumped. See what you can do to get these wines to the US.

  • Croatian wines here I come! I've currently just made a vintage from a local Croatian guy's vines. He has no idea what variety he is growing, but the wine is GOOD! Thanks for a great show gary.

  • JoshL

    aaaahahahahahaha MOTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! smells like wine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NICE~
    you're bad, you're bad (in stewie griffin voice)

    awesome show gv, two great episodes in a row! I've always wanted to visit Croatia for its broad range of diversity despite its small population, yet I've never thought to look for wine from the country! yesterday mallorca, today croatia, this is awesome! it's brightened up my mood from saturday with my birds getting their wings chopped off by the cowgirls….

    QOTD: Cliff, I haven't, but it's definitely on my list thanks to your effort on this episode. Thanks for being “prepared” and showing your passion for wine!

  • thnx Mikey N for being here!

  • Ron the Ottocento Crno is a must try, a must!

  • Agreed Flava and nice avatar

  • JoshL u need an avatar!

  • Do u still get it?

  • Neil u still getting it?

  • Thnx Gus, maybe

  • JoshL

    i'll figure something out one of these days….a square aspect ratio is so unwelcoming….i'm sooo a 16:9 person…..ahhhh that mottster, i'm still laughing my a$$ off

  • wayno da wino

    I'M CRAAAAAAVIIIIIIIIIN' FOR SOME CROATIAN VIIIIIIIIINOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! :0)

    qotd: Not yet, but I'm on da Hunt……..

  • adam976

    This was an awesome, awesome show Gary. Like a great wine it was filled with passion, knowledge, and subtleties that unless you're paying attention, you totally will not get it.

    I really like the one on one with Mr. V, but when you pull out wine nerds like this who are not only knowledgeable, but very social too, then you are bringing the serious thunder.

    QOTD: I have never had the pleasure.

    What a coincidence that Croatia would be in the news today.

  • wayno da wino

    I WAAANNAAAA BEEEEE, I WAAAAAAAANNAAAAAAAA BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! :O)

  • robbiec

    Gary V. I was sorry to read that you got dissed by Eric Asimov on his NYT blog. What a tool! WHo cares if you want to pair wine with cereal? I guess he's more pretentious than I thought.

  • scottEJ

    Great shwo guys. Great!! I can honestly say that I have never even thought about Croatian wines let alone knew that they even produced the stuff. THAT will change. Thanks again for the heads-up.

    QOTD: see above.

    Good luck to your Jets this weekend, G. I'm pulling for you.

  • beeperr

    Another mind-expanding episode. Thanks, guys.

    QOTD: Never had the opportunity, but will definitely be looking for the Ottocento or a similar blend

  • PatentDan

    Hm…Great show… but, teasing about the “no guest” thing?

    2010 The Year We Make Contact…with Guests

  • Mike in C-town

    This show was MONEY. A great, knowledgeable guest and fantastic wines. I loved the education — ah, the thrill of discovery.

    QOTD: never had one ….. yet.

    Like others with IE, I can not get rid of the warning despite following the directions to change it. You need to post some tech help for us.

  • Dominic C.

    Overall, awesome start to this year with you bringing to light varietals and locations that have not been noticed on the world stage. Great play and certainly looking forward to more shows in this direction.

    This is looking to be the direction that I'd like to be reflected in your inventory. You really should adopt the policy that if you do bring on a guest, within the next month or so, those wines will be premiered on Cinderella wines!

    You should also look towards bringing wines that are classified as village wines that are distributed only amongst the local populace to be tasted on the show with a wine maker from that same area.

    Think of it, if you seen the movie Bottle Shock where Californian wines break on to the center stage, you could very well be that Frenchman who does such!

  • robbiec

    Great job Mr. Rames! You were one of the greatest guests. I really hope to try a Croatian wine some day. Unfortunately, I don't really get any good wines in China. I usually draw up a list of wines to try while back in the US…There will definitely be a Croatian on the list!

  • carlo10

    man, Gary is getting pushy in the comments ; ) making us get avatars and stuff, jeeze. great show. i love it when you get a chance to geek out.

    QOTD: never tried one and wont be until i get a job…anyone out there want to hire a kid who will be out of school in may!?!?!?!?!?

  • PatentDan

    He's making those names up…..

    I, myself, enjoyed a fine wine from zebraland on hills that have a 69.6 degree incline… we all ride on vermicious knids to pluck each grape with a device called a oompalift… seriously though, great episode

  • Michael D

    Great show, Gary and Cliff.

    Anyone interested in Croatian wines might like to know that Croatia is unbelievably beautiful – at least the coastal area, which is all I have seen of it. I was there a few years ago, and didn't even think to try any wines. I hope to go back some day.

    To those having trouble posting comments here via Internet Explorer, I had the same problem, but it was solved when I switched to Firefox. Hope this helps.

  • yankee22

    Great show. This is what winelibrarytv has to offer when it's really cookin' Subject was new and enlightening, guest was knowledgeable and prepared and Gary was jacked. I loved it.

  • Loved this show!! I have tasted a plavac mali which was a tad light for my palate. I will definitely try more Croatian wines.

  • chateauplonk

    Great show! Love seeing stuff I've never heard of.

    QOTD: I've had one Croatian wine. I bought it at a little Eastern European deli/specialty shop in Boise Idaho and it was white. I can't remember what it was, but I do remember that it was oxidized in a way that it tasted like cheap fino Sherry. I'd love to try some more high end stuff though.

  • “Doboro, doboro” Cliff, great to see wines of our fellow ancestioral homeland. And really great preparation for the show, kudos and a great overall show. Thanks for nerding-it-up for us.

    Mott, you're a funny guy! LMAO!

    QOTD: The closest I've come is some homemade moonshine at 195+/- proof that my Grandpa brought back after visiting some relatives.

  • highsierra

    Fantastic guest and nice to see real rapport and people into the wine, the region and the discussion. By far one of the best episodes I've seen. I haven't tried any Croatian juice but I'll be looking for the Crno.

    The Bolts will be bringing the thunder! GV, meet Norelco. No weak mid-palate with Rivers and Gates. Hey, at least it will be a nice trip to Cali but SD gets the W.

  • Great show. Really enjoyed it. One of my faves in awhile.
    Might have to try to get to Croatia sometime.
    Looks like they have some stunning beaches, too.

  • Cliff

    hi – just a note: ALL wines mentioned in the episode are available in the US. please contact me if you need help tracking them down.

    also – a very timely article – “Croatia – the Time is Ripe” – was just published today in Palate Press. Two of the producers (Bibich & Clai) featured on the show are highlighted in the article. Check it out at http://palatepress.com/2010/01/croatia-the-time-is-ripe/

    Huge thanks for all the great support & commentary!
    cliff

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