Plavac Mali

**Plavac Mali** is a red grape from the Dalmatian coast of Croatia and the country's most important native red. Genetics have shown it to be a natural offspring of Tribidrag crossed with the local Dobričić, and because Tribidrag is the very same variety Californians call Zinfandel and Italians call Primitivo, Plavac Mali is a direct descendant of that famous grape. **In the glass** — it gives deeply coloured, full-bodied wines that are high in alcohol, with dark cherry, fig and dried-plum fruit, warm spice, firm tannins and a sometimes slightly rustic grip. **Where it grows** — it flourishes on the steep, sun-baked slopes and stony islands of southern Dalmatia, with the Dingač and Postup sites on the Pelješac peninsula producing its most powerful and celebrated wines. **At the table** — pair it with grilled lamb, hearty stews and rich braised meats. **Cellaring** — the top examples have real tannin and concentration and can age well for several years, softening and deepening with time.

Wines

• Dingač — Matuško
• Mediterano Plavac — PZ Svirče
• Zlatan Rosé — Zlatan Otok