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Crljenak Kastelanski

2021 Crljenak Kastelanski, Miljenko’s Selection

Winery Exclusive Wine


Retail: $ 75.00

Member Only

The Wine

Upon arriving in Napa Valley in 1958, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich was astounded by the many similarities between Zinfandel and Plavac Mali, a grape native to his homeland. He believed they may be the same grape. In2000, Mike’s contributions to the work of geneticist Carole Meredith and professors in Croatia led to an amazing discovery. Zinfandel’s DNA matches Crljenak Kaštelanski (also known as Tribidrag), a very old, nearly extinct vine from Croatia and the parent of Plavac Mali. This unique wine was made from vines brought over from Croatia to Napa Valley.

This very unique wine begins with aromas of cranberry, blood orange, plums and rose hip, followed by hints of ripe raspberry, red pepper, thyme and sandalwood. On the palate, Crljenak Kaštelanski exhibits intense aromatics of blood orange and mixed berries supported by a lively, fresh acidity. The finish is long and complex with undertones of spices and herbs.

Vintage

The growing season was free from severe weather issues, and, despite the drought, our yield increased five percent from 2020. We had no significant rainfall past the month of February, but mild spring and summer conditions provided an ideal environment for grapes to flower, bloom, and set in early spring. Notably cooler temperatures in August and September allowed us to pick each block at its ideal point of ripeness, leading to outstanding quality and great concentration in the fruit. The grape harvest drew to a close at the end of October, with the last grapes arriving just before an atmospheric river brought much-needed rain to Northern California

Vineyard

We planted a small portion (2 acres) of Miljenko’s Vineyard (34 acres) with Crljenak Kaštelanski as an experiment to see how it would respond to the climate and soils of Calistoga. The vines reacted positively to the vineyard’s northeast exposure which catches abundant morning sun and is protected from the hot, late afternoon sun. Combined with the vineyard’s gravelly loam soil, we found that this location was the perfect spot to grow this varietal. All our vineyards are certified regenerative organic, ensuring that all our grapes are of the highest quality and that we are responsible stewards of our environment.

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