Marinov Babić Dalmatia 2020

Josipa and Nero Marinov’s vineyards are located in the Dalmatia region of Croatia, on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea. Just a few meters above sea level on karst and crvenica (terra rossa - a type of red clay) soils, their 50 year old vines are farmed organically and harvested by hand. Rather than using the organic or biodynamic labels to describe her winemaking, Josipa prefers to refer to her methods as traditional, “as our elders did it 100 years ago, with some improvements.” This unique bottling is made from the native babić grape, which sees six days of maceration followed by spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel. The wine is aged for a further nine months in stainless steel before bottling without fining or filtration. Medium-bodied, with dark purple, blue, and black fruit including blackcurrant, stewed plum, black olive, and hints of sweet Good n’ Plenty, this will please mourvèdre and grenache lovers who are looking for something lively and new. Try it with a slight chill to accompany anything hot off the grill. Certified organic, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan.