Ljubišće appellation

4 Ljubišće appellation

Variety: 100% Plavac mali

Ground composition: Skeletal soil covered with colluvial sediment

Elevation: 120 m above sea level

Vineyard size: 2.000 ha / 6500 vines per ha

Vineyard age: 85% older than 15 years

Yield per hectare: 8000 kg

Yield per vine: 1,25 kg

Vislander wines from the Ljubišće appellation are under the label of grandpa Bartol.

Plavac mali

Colour: medium deep, intense ruby colour.

Aroma: a dazzling combination of sophisticated and gentle wild berry aromas and herbs, with a mild note of leather and smoke gained by maturation in wooden barrels.

Taste: lively, delicious taste with a seductive, slightly tart finish makes it a perfect starter wine.

Enjoying wine with Vis specialities such as: salted fish pie, pilchard risotto, grilled lamb, fried fish, tomato pas, grilled pilchard, roasted lamb under the bell, snail stew, grilled scampi, pašticada with gnocchi, matured sheep and goat cheeses with almonds and pistachio.

Aging potential: 3 – 6 years

Serving temperature: 16 – 18℃

Plavac mali
— 2018 13,5 % Alc.
— 2019 14 % Alc.
— 2020 15 % Alc.

Wine making

Macerating on solids and fermentation take 8 – 12 days in fermentation tanks with a controlled temperature of 24 – 28 degrees Celsius. During the vinification process, it is combined with one part selection yeasts and autochthonous yeasts, which gives the wine the highest possible concentration of terroir of Plavac. The first two days the Délestage is done (the process of draining the juice from the must that is again returned by soaking onto the solids) for better extraction of colour, aroma and oxygenation (irradiation) which softens the tannins abundant in Plavac, while stirring the solids 4 times a day until the end of fermentation.

Malolactic fermentation

Part of the wine goes through malolactic fermentation in inox barrels with the inoculation of Lactobacillus plantarum, and partly spontaneously.

Maturation

After fermentation ends, the wine rests in inox barrels for 100 days. After that 80% of the wine rests in large 500L oak barrels (combination of Hungarian and French oak) for 10 – 12 months and 20% rests in inox tanks. After removal from wooden barrels the wine rests for an additional 8 months in inox tanks and 4 – 6 months in bottles after bottling.

Premium dry red wine

A succulent wine with medium tannins and a pleasant freshness. Developed, oaky, leafy, undergrowth, dark cherry, and licorices. With assertive tannins and a long finish.