Matošević Grimalda Red 2021
£25.75
The wine
Vibrant ruby. Bramble, plum and red cherry dominate the nose, complemented by depth.
Grimalda is a Bordeaux-style blend from the Brdo vineyard in Central Istria, sheltered and warm enough to ripen the varieties fully. Istria is the Croatian peninsula across the gulf from Trieste, on the same ground as Friuli and Slovenia and sharing their grapes. It has become one of the most interesting corners of European wine in the last two decades, having spent the previous fifty producing bulk wine under Yugoslav planning. Matošević work Central Istria at 250 to 300 metres, on limestone, marlstone and sandstone.
The producer
Matosevic
View all Matosevic winesMatošević is one of the pioneering names of modern Croatian wine, based in Istria, the sun-warmed peninsula on the Adriatic. Founded by the late Ivica Matošević, it helped lead the region's quality revolution and remains among its most respected estates.
The vineyards lie on Istria's varied soils, from red terra rossa to grey marl, cooled by sea breezes. A focus on the native Malvazija Istarska, along with careful, expressive winemaking, gives wines of freshness, texture and true Istrian character.
The range showcases the region's signature white, from the fresh, unoaked Alba Malvazija to the barrel-aged, textural Alba Antiqua, alongside the flagship Grimalda red, a characterful blend led by Merlot and the local Teran. Each speaks of its home.
Fresh, distinctive and food-loving, the wines of Matošević are a wonderful introduction to Istria. They capture the energy of one of Europe's most exciting wine regions.
