2019 Pilizota - Babic (750ml)

Ivica Piližota runs a small, family winery in the inland countryside surrounding the historic town of Šibenik, in Central Dalmatia along Croatia's Adriatic coast. Piližota farms organically and has built a quiet reputation for expressing Babić, a red grape variety native to this stretch of the Dalmatian coastline, with honesty and restraint rather than heavy handed winemaking.

The 2019 vintage is made entirely from Babić grown at a dense planting of roughly six thousand vines per hectare with naturally low yields. The grapes are hand harvested, destemmed, and left to ferment spontaneously in open stainless steel vats with about ten days of skin contact. After fermentation the wine rests in stainless steel before moving into large, well used six hundred liter Slavonian oak barrels for around six months, a step meant to soften the wine gently rather than add oak flavor.

The result carries aromas of ripe dark fruit, particularly blackberry, blueberry, plum, and fig, along with a touch of licorice and the earthy, almost barnyard character typical of Babić. On the palate it is smooth yet firm, with mouthwatering acidity, a gamey edge, and light tannins that lead into a gentle finish. It pairs naturally with lamb, red meats, wild game, or cured meats and cheeses.