Wine: Kos Pinot Noir Barrique 2016
Vintage: 2016
Tasted: May 2020
Variety: Pinot Noir
Alc 13%
Close to the capital of Croatia, Zagreb, lies Zelina area known for its wine road. One of the local wineries, one belonging to Kos family, is making strides in recent years producing interesting wines of various profiles. Their Pinot Noir vineyards have been around since the beginning of the new millennium with the first harvest done in 2007. Today they produce around 5000 bottles of Pinot Noir Barrique per year with the total production between 50000 and 60000 bottles per year. As the name suggests, their Pinot Noir Barrique is aged in small Slavonian oak barrels, third of which are new and two thirds are one or two years old.
Right in the middle between light and medium intensity, the wine’s shiny ruby colour is alluring and seductive.
Vanilla, sour cherry, cherry jam, raspberry… sweet aromas dominate on the nose. Spices and fruit invoke childhood memories of vanilla and raspberry ice cream. Hint of smokiness adds depth and seriousness to make the wine appear more elegant and complex.
In the mouth the wine delivers everything it promised up till now. It is deliciously fruity and spicy with sour cherry compote, raspberry and pomegranate flavours complimented by oak influence. It is a refreshing wine with very nice medium + acidity. 13% alcohol is very well masked making this wine a wonderful warmer weather red with great options for food pairing. Tannins are on the softer side and are well integrated.
When tasting this wine I paired it with Ox Tail Pappardelle and I was not let down. It’s a match made in heaven for red meat dishes where beef especially becomes this Pinot Noir’s best friend. It would also do well with tuna steaks and smoked salmon, while vegetarians and vegans might try to pair it with dishes where tomato sauces or black beans dominate, as long as it’s not too spicy. One off-beat meatless pairing I might try next for this one would be eggplant parmigiana.
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