Zlatan Otok Little Blue Plavac (75cl, 14.5%)

A Croatian red wine from the island of Hvar, made from 100% hand-harvested Plavac Mali and bottled at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle. The grapes come from precipitous vineyard slopes with gradients reaching 35–40%, and the wine is vinified entirely without oak. The nose leads with bright cherry and red plum, followed by dried herbs, Dalmatian garrigue with wild rosemary and sage, and a faint mineral undertone. The palate is juicy with dark berry and cherry fruit, lively acidity, then pepper and warm spice alongside light salinity recalling the Adriatic breeze. The unoaked profile keeps fruit at the forefront, with no vanilla or toast from barrel contact. The finish is medium in length, with lingering red plum, subtle herbal bitterness and a dry mineral edge, with moderate soft tannins and a clean, food-friendly conclusion.