Zlatan Otok Plavac Grand Select 2018

Grape	Plavac Mali
Producer	Zlatan Otok
Region	Hvar Island, Dalmatia, Croatia
Vintage	2018
Farming	Minimal intervention
Fermentation	Native yeast
Style	Full-bodied red, age-worthy

Zlatan Otok — “Golden Island” — is one of the most celebrated names in Croatian wine, farming the sun-drenched limestone slopes of Hvar with a philosophy rooted in the island’s ancient winemaking tradition. The Grand Select is their pinnacle expression of Plavac Mali: made from the oldest and most carefully tended vines on the estate, built for age and complexity.

The Producer — Zlatan Plenković, Hvar

Founded by Zlatan Plenković on the island of Hvar, Zlatan Otok has spent decades demonstrating that Croatian Plavac Mali can stand alongside the great red wines of the Mediterranean. The vineyards sit on rocky limestone terraces near Vrpolje, with direct sea views and the fierce Dalmatian sun that concentrates flavour in the thick-skinned Plavac Mali grape.

Winemaking

Hand-harvested from old vines. Native yeast fermentation. Extended maceration to extract the full phenolic richness of Plavac Mali’s thick skins. Aged in oak for structure and depth, with additional bottle age before release.

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby with garnet tones. On the nose: dark cherry, blackberry, wild herbs, dried fig, and the saline mineral quality of the Adriatic coast. Full-bodied on the palate, with concentrated dark fruit, firm but polished tannins, and a long, mineral finish. The 2018 vintage is hitting its stride now but has several more years ahead.

How to Serve

Decant for one hour. Serve at 17–18°C. Open a bottle tonight and put the second in the cellar for five years — both will reward you.

Food Pairing

Roast lamb with rosemary, grilled octopus, slow-cooked beef, aged hard cheese. The tannin and dark fruit make this equally at home with a celebratory roast as with a long Adriatic lunch.

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