# Plavac Mali "Milo" (Blue Label) (2021)

- **Producer:** Vinarija Križ
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Plavac Mali
- **Region:** Pelješac Peninsula, Croatia
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €25
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, raspberry, blackberry, black pepper, herbaceous, chocolate, dried fig, leather

## About this wine

Vinarija Križ is a boutique family micro-winery located in Prizdrina on Croatia's Pelješac Peninsula, managed by Denis Bogoević Marušić alongside his father Mile. Denis pioneered organic and biodynamic viticulture on the peninsula, establishing the estate as the area's first certified biodynamic producer. The Blue Label (also known as 'Milo') was conceived as a vibrant, fresh, and approachable counterpart to traditionally dense and tannic Plavac Mali cuvées. Grapes are harvested from 60-year-old bush vines grown on extreme 45-degree south-facing limestone slopes.

## Interesting facts

- It comes from the first certified organic and biodynamic winery on Croatia's Pelješac Peninsula.
- Old bush vines grow on 45-degree limestone slopes, producing tiny yields of under 0.5 kg of fruit per vine.
- Crafted with short skin maceration to offer a fresh, approachable alternative to classic heavy Plavac Mali.

## Food pairing

The wine's bright medium-plus acidity and supple tannins cut through rich meats and savory fats, while its authentic Mediterranean herb notes perfectly match traditional Dalmatian dishes like beef Pašticada and grilled lamb.

## Wine making process

Grapes are hand-harvested adhering to biodynamic calendar principles and fermented spontaneously in open vats using native yeasts. Skin maceration is kept short (5 to 7 days) to achieve gentle extraction of soft tannins while retaining bright fruit character. The wine matures for 12 months in 600-liter neutral Slavonian oak barrels before settling for an additional 6 months in bottle. It is bottled unfiltered and unclarified with minimal added sulfur.