Bura Estate Vintner Plavac Mali Dingac 2021

Grape	Plavac Mali
Producer	Bura Estate Vintner
Region	Dingač ZOIP, Pelješac, Croatia
Vintage	2021
Farming	Organic, no irrigation
Aging	10 months French oak (15% new)
Alcohol	~14.5%

Plavac Mali is the primary indigenous red grape of the Dalmatian coast — genetically linked to Zinfandel and grown on some of the most extreme vineyard terrain in Europe. The Bura family has been farming these slopes in Dingač since 1410, spanning sixteen generations. This is their flagship: the full-force expression of what Plavac Mali becomes when grown on 45-degree limestone cliffs above the Adriatic and given time to become something serious.

The Producer — Niko Bura, Dingač

Niko Bura’s vineyards are fully organic — no irrigation, sulfur only in April as the sole treatment. They sit in Dingač, the first Croatian wine to receive protected designation of origin, where the sea reflects sunlight back onto the vines from below and the harvest must be done entirely by hand, with grapes carried up the cliff by rope and pulley.

Winemaking

Manual harvest of slightly raisinated grapes. Destemmed and naturally fermented in open vats with manual punchdowns three times daily. Seven days of maceration. Aged ten months in 225-litre French oak barrels with 15% new oak. Coarse filtration only. One full year in bottle before release.

Tasting Notes

Very powerful and high in extract, with intense black fruit on the nose — pine, dry hay, and dark mineral depth. Full-bodied with ample acidity and tannin supporting lush, creamy black fruit: figs, blueberry jam, and earthy undertones. A wine built for the long game.

Food Pairing

A natural match for the lamb dishes of its home country. Also excellent with venison, hearty roasts, complex stews, and aged hard cheese. The tannin and extract demand richness in return.

How to Serve

Decant for at least 45 minutes. Serve at 17–18°C. This wine can be cellared for 10+ years from the vintage — the 2021 is just beginning its life.

Learn more: Croatian natural wine — the complete guide · Plavac Mali — Croatia’s great indigenous red grape