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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.


Latest Comment:

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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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  • Cliff

    Hi Bill & Wendy,

    If you need any information about wine tourism in Croatia, please give me a shout.

    Thanks!
    cliff

  • Cliff

    Thanks Andrew. Zhivili!

  • Cliff

    dear Phredd3: thanks for your comments – let us know if you find the Ottocento. Louis/Dressner is the importer…call or email them and ask where you can get it in your area.

    Best, cliff

  • Cliff

    Dear CellarRat5: Blue Danube Wine Co. is in your area and distributes a nice portfolio of Croatian wines in CA. Contact Frank Dietrich there – he will be glad to help!

    All the best, Cliff

  • Cliff

    Thanks for the follow, Flo!
    cliff

  • Cliff

    Douglas – we should talk. Do you know Daniel Pedisich?

  • Great episode. Cliff was an excellent guest.

    QOTD – nope, I haven't tried any yet. I'd love to. Where can we get it around the NYC area?

  • corkscrew

    Gary…..see guests are a good thing! Very informative guest Cliff was, knowledgeable and passonite, I will be sure to check out his website to learn more about wines from this region which I have not tried yet. I look forward to trying some. (ps Gary you must be pumped with how well Jets played this weekend ……who knows….at least your tailgate in San Diego will be warm) winelx.com

  • Awesome episode Gary and Cliff!!!!!!!

  • brianaf

    Absolutely fantastic episode!

  • In 1993 I worked with a guy who was a dual citizen, Croatia and the US. His father sent him some wine before Christmas and everyone he knew did not appreciate wine but he had grown up with it. He knew that I liked wine and asked me to share it with him. It was amazing wine. I do not remember the vineyards and never knew the price range but it was among the best wines that I have tasted. In fact it was the first time that I had a white wine that I loved. The red that he had was pretty amazing as well but I was kind of in shock at how much I loved the white when that had never happened to me before. He got a lot of good laughs out of that.

  • danoeno

    “I've had one Croatian wine in my life and it wasn't memorable”

    Don't base your opinion on the entire country on one unmemorable wine. I've had unmemorable wines from France, Italy, Portugal, Argentina, and the US. Yet I still keep drinking and exploring wines from each of these countries!

  • Richie

    QOTD: Not yet. But I have been to Croatia and liked it alot. Beautiful country!

  • I have had a few. Gary nails it wanting more value driven wines. None of the wines I have had were worth the money other than to try a different wine region. I would buy another bottle or two, but to buy more the prices need to come down (at least for me).
    Here are my notes on the wines I have had:
    2004 Kozlovic Malvazija
    Probably should have been drunk a year ago, but still showed well. Deep golden in color, clear and bright. The nose has minerals and peaches. Nice texture. Peaches on the palate with a nice crispness from the acidity. Long finish. 13% Alc. 87

    2005 Bura Dingac.
    Bottle No. 0868. Purple in color, ruby hues and mostly opaque and bright. The nose has some spice and black raspberries. A nice earthiness to it as well. On the palate, this goes well with the pizza. Zinesque, is easy to say knowing the relationship of Plavic Mali to the Zinfandel grape. I am not so sure, but perhaps. A bit of coffee grounds and plums on the palate. Good finish. I liked this wine, but I paid $60 for it (out of curiosity) and it is not worth anywhere near that. At $15 to $20, it would be a fun wine. That said, for a one timer, it was fun.

    2004 Zlatan Plavac
    Made from the Plavac Mali grape. Ruby/black in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has some brett to it, which I really enjoyed. Also some black pepper and cranberries. On the palate, this is a bit to alcoholic. It does not fully handle its 14.5%. At the same time, there is a lot of acidity to this. It NEEDS food. Tastes of cranberries, raspberries and black pepper. It mellows a bit with air. Nice finish. A fun wine. I paid $37 and not worth a second bottle, but the first was worth it for the opportunity to try something different. 88

    Excellent show.

  • Tom

    Gary, Cliff – what a show! If will help a lot to promote fine Croatian wines, of which there are a lot of small producers making such “different” and terroir driven wines.
    To anyone who is interested in getting more information or even purchasing Croatian wines directly from Croatia – take a look at http://www.vino.hr, their site is not on english but you can translate it online with google toolbar.

  • missatiejacket

    Great show. I haven't had any Croatian wines, but I will certainly try some if they become available in my local market (Maine) or if I see them in my travels.

  • nickcaruth

    wow, awesome episode, cliff knows his stuff

    qotd – no but I'm going looking for some today

  • jayhitek

    QOTD: Never have tasted one. Would like to though.

  • Bking

    Great show! Also just watch the episode on Merlove and thinking I”m gonna have to see what it's all about! Keep bringing it not just with the shows but great guests!

  • cmaloy

    LOVED the show!!! Cliff was an amazing guest and now I am on the hunt to try some Croatian wines.

    QOTD: I have not tried any, but I will soon. Gonna have to make a trip to Croatia now just for a wine tasting.

  • RG

    Great one, GV.

  • Cliff

    Wines of Croatia will alos eventually be organizing wine tourism trips to Croatia…stay tuned!!

  • cmaloy

    I am looking forward to this. I would be interested. Please let me know.

  • gncohen

    Great episode!! Excellent guest. Wish the wines were a bit cheaper and affordable though! I wonder if they're easy to find in Tennessee where I live….

  • Phil G

    very interesting, looking forward to trying some more croatian wines!

    qotd – i know that i've had some in the past, but can't remember any specifics… again, look forward to having more in the future.

  • Phil G

    nice win for the Jets last Sat, btw…

  • Weston3220

    now this is my type of episode, a wine passionate person, well two.

    qotd: nope never I would have to check if there is even any here in BC. Canada

  • teckdeck2008

    Wow, you've picked some good guest lately.

    Qotd: I have never had any Croation wine, but its mostly due to lack of money lately. Once I get a legit job, I'll definitely try a wine from a different region every week. And from the way the episode went today i should probably make croatia my next choice.

  • JudyYo

    This was a guest who was well informed and prepared. He was worth watching. As soon as the show was over I ran down to our local Whole Foods to see if I could find the wines he talked about but no luck. I am going to continue the search because I want to try these. Please continue to have shows that broaden our knowledge.

  • jsums

    Never had a Croatian wine…but I will now. Thanks, fellas!

  • Just gone through the Tasting Wines From Croatia ? Episode #798 and found it to be awesome. Love this episode. Keep up the good work.

  • Anonymous

    Contact the importers: http://www.oenocentric.com, http://www.bluedanubewine.com, http://www.vinumusa.com, http://www.louisdressner.com for availability information in your area.

  • alexkeywest

    I spent 3 weeks in Croatia last june. The wines and the food are at best mediocre. We were in Split, Hvar, Dobrovnic and several smaller islands. We ate in the highest rated restaurants in the major cities and highly recommended places in addition. We also ate in many konobos (the equivalent of a family run tratoria in Italy). Again the food was mediocre and the house wines, with the surprising exception of the rose, almost undrinkable. $ 50+ for a Croatian wine….you're crazy

  • wiljak

    Get the man a microphone.

  • QOTD; Was drinking the Bibich Riserva Skradin while watching the show. Mind boggling to try and relate this to US Zinfandel.

    Great show Gary! Would love to see more on these little known outposts of the wine world!

  • lindseyc1112

    Great show, this one and the last, love the lil niches of the wine world and world in general and all the information. Found the part about the toughness of the skin and its drought tolerance to be interesting. Loved shows 797 and 798. Good work.

    Linds

  • BigJoe

    Your guests' passion was absolutely contagious. Probably the best show to date in mho. I appreciate your steadfast dedication to the value plays, but please don't be afraid to showcase the pricier wines occasionally. Even us broke-ass guys out here like to splurge on a really great wine every now and then, and these give us something to aim for so we aren't in danger of wasting our money.

  • JiminAtlanta

    Very interesting show. I have not had any wines from Croatia, but it sounds like I should. I hope to get to Croatia in the next few years and try some there.

  • Joe Trdinich

    I visited Croatia in the summer of 2005 and had a few wines there. I liked the reds, did not care for the whites. Brought home a bottle of 2001 Milicic Dingac that our wine group rated very highly and wished we had more. In addition to being a beautiful country I was very impressed with the reds.
    Thanks for a great show!

  • andre_hm

    Hi Cliff.

    QoTD: being in Hungary (just next door to Croatia), and enjoying summers in the Adriatic, I got to taste loads of it. I usually find the whites more consistently good than the reds. I've had some Matusko Dingac 2005 that was really good. I even had some home made stuff in Hvar island that tasted beautiful. If anyone goes over there, try their destillates: Biska from a producer called Veralda, is excellent (and not too strong at 38%).

    My concern coming back was to be stopped at the border and have the boot open by the guards… would be difficult to explain all those bottles.

  • andre_hm

    Alex, thing is, as Croatia becomes more and more turistic, attracting many times less demanding tourists from Europe, you cannot stop at the first joint.

    Go off peak season and you'll be treated much better. Don't just stick to the coastline and go inland. Ask around for a restaurant. Buy your own wine and fish from the market (if you know how to/can cook it). The rules pretty much apply wherever you2're travelling to.

  • pawncop

    This was a great episode. Good guest and as you pointed out, very well prepared.

    QOTD – Not yet but will be looking for them.

  • markedjone

    All people that love white wines give it a try to the “Traminac” (variety of grapes: traminer or gewurztraminer in Germany) made by “Ilo?ki podrumi.” Gold colored, low acid, oil texture, rose, honey, ginger, lichy.. amazing wine..

  • Filip Floreani

    Hey guys thank you for spreading the news on Croatian wine that is finally evolving into something presentable to the US and the rest of the world.
    I only find that Slavonian wines and particularly the red ones are somewhat underestimated when compared to Dalmatian and Istrian grapes. So why not try a bottle of Frankovka from the Orahovica and Pozega district. Kept in barrique it proves to be a very gamy full of taste of black berries and a hint of vanilla. I'd be thrilled to see a bottle of those on the show which I find highly entertaining and inspiring.
    Best regards and keep going,
    Filip

  • Cluster001

    I would like to thank you for the promotion of Croatian wines!

    I am from the continental part of Croatian territory. There are several authentic wine that should be mentioned “Traminac (white)”, “Grashevina (white)”, “Frankovka (black)”. These are wines with numerous international awards. There are several interesting stories from the history of the Croatian people about wine (history of the Ilok Fort – http://vinskacesta.opcina-erdut.hr/). Did you know that Croatia has the biggest wine barrel in Erdut town 75,000 l (http://vinskacesta.opcina-erdut.hr/)?

  • mostar

    keep on tasting Croatian wines Gary!
    much respect !

  • dalibor

    Nice show,
    I have a suggestion 4 U:
    U should try some wines from Mr. Mihaly Gerstmajer,
    village of Zmajevac, region of Baranja, Croatia!!
    Good work, keep on promoting our small, but beautiful country!!! :))

  • Antun

    Enjingi? Wow! 🙂

    You can see all other wines from Enjingi here: http://www.enjingi.hr/en_wines.html

    And of course – keep on tasting Croatian wines and come to Croatia Gary 😉

  • ahillsey

    Cliff's a cool dude.

  • John Santamaria

    Great episode and an outstanding guest. Would really love to give these a try, especially the Ottocento Crno. I just emailed the distributor so hopefully the can point me towards some retailers that ship to or are within a short drive of the Allentown, PA area. Thank you Gary for expanding my wine knowledge.

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