Badel Plavac Red 2018 Wine Review

Badel Plavac Red 2018

Pelješac, South Dalmatia Coast, Croatia

Community Score:88/100

Community Reviews: 9

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Price: $13.55

Drink: 2020-2023

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 12%

Sweetness: Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine

Winery: Badel

Agent: United Stars Corporation Group

Natalie's Score: 89/100

A full-bodied, supple, smooth Croatian red wine from the middle and southern Dalmatian Coastal vineyards. Aromas of dark plums, berries and smoke. The Plavac Mali grape shares an inheritance with California's Zinfandel and pairs with many of the same hearty meat dishes and barbecue.

Plavac Red food pairings: meat lovers' pizza, hamburgers.

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This Badel Plavac Red 2018 was reviewed on October 22, 2020 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2016 2019 2014

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Pricing & Stock Information

LCBO
460873
$13.55
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Reviews and Ratings

Jane Staples - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Crafted from the indigenous Plavac Mali varietal, which is considered the offspring of Zinfandel, this wine is crafted in Pelješac, a region on Croatia's South Dalmatia Coast. This ruby-coloured dry red is fruit-forward and fragrant, with a ripe cherry and slightly herbal nose. The palate blossoms with more cherry, ripe plum, vanilla, Mediterranean herbs and dark chocolate notes. Excellent acidity and soft tannins make this wine ultra-versatile with food. If you’re a Pinot Noir fan, you’ll likely fall in love with Plavac Mali; just think of a ripe Pinot Noir and kick it up a notch.
This is a budget-friendly red which is definitely worth remembering when you’re looking for wines to go with that Thanksgiving turkey. It also suits seafood such as scallops and has flavour and structure enough to balance roast lamb.
Tasted Sept. 2020

Andrea Shapiro rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Hailing from the Pelješac region of Croatia. This area is known for hilly sea-sides of the Adriatic coastline in Dalmatia. On the label there is an image of a donkey. Fun fact - the terrain in the region where these grapes grow is quite steep, hilly and rocky. This is one of the reasons the flavours shine from grapes grown in this area. Donkeys were used to carry down harvested grapes. Previously, when there weren't yet roads built the sure-footed donkey could go up and over stony mountains with much more ease than their human companions, carrying the grapes back to the wineries to be processed.

Bright and flavourful with a blooming berry-filled bouquet. Lively aromas of red liquorice, fresh tarragon and coppery minerals. Flavours reveal plum, blackberry, dark chocolate and savoury spicy black tea carrying into the back. Acidity is refreshing with balanced, satiny tannins and a plummy, fruity finish. Serve slightly chilled with mushroom burgers or ribs.

Christian Marcoux rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

The Peljesac Plavac Mali 2018, from Croatia, is proof that wine has no borders and delicious wines are made throughout the world. The wine reveals aromas of black currant, berry jam, rose, daisy, leather, molasse and spice. Its light body, agreable tannins and superb fruit quality, make the wine is suitable for food pairing or before dinner. Interesting fact: The Peljesac Peninsula is a wine region on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, between the popular tourist destinations of Split and Dubrovnik. It produces some of Croatia's best-known wines, most notably the weighty Plavac Mali-based reds. Palate: tart cherry, blackberry, dried herbs, black pepper, leather, tomato vine and oak. Enjoy!

Courtney Flood rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

This wine comes from the steep mountain ridges of the Pelješac peninsula in southern Croatia on the Adriatic coast. The indigenous plavac mali grape shares ancestral origin with the zinfandel grape. This wine displays the sweet notes of chocolate covered cherries, sweet raspberry, with a note of rosewater and smoke in the background. The wine has a nicely balanced acidity and is not too heavy at only 12% abv. Great pairing for a tomato based dish - I paired with a tomato vegetable soup with smoked paprika. Also pairs nicely with steak or game meats.

Excellent value - I tasted before seeing the price, this one is a steal.

Tasted December 19, 2020

L.J. Palmer WSET 3 rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Pale ruby in colour, medium bodied, dry, soft tannins and food friendly acidity, this wine opens with a pronounced candied aroma, followed by tart Montmorency sour cherry, vanilla and red currants. Over time the palate evolves to a very pleasant intense Montmorency cherry flavour with a hint of vanilla. Excellent solo sipper; also paired well with beef stroganoff. Pays to wait to profit from the maximum sour cherry flavour.

Craig Haynes - WSET3 FWS SWS IWS rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

This wine was crafted with Plavac mali, a grape indigenous to Croatia. On this nose, this wine revealed elegant, hushed aromas of crushed berries and cherries framed with hints of cedar and spice. Red berry dominant, the palate showed supple tannins, tilted towards medium weight and introduced a fleeting finish. For me, this Plavac mali and a square of dark chocolate paired quite nicely. Enjoy.

Reviewed on September 12, 2020

Jennifer Havers - WSET Level 3 rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

This wine is made from Plavac Mali, which is indigenous to Croatia. Aromas include cranberry, cherry, and warm spice. Medium bodied on the palate, with some medium+ acidity, tons of tart cranberry on the palate, with hnts of smoke and spice on the finish. Enjoy with your holiday turkey dinner.

Molly Amoli Shinhat reviewed this wine as follows:

One of United Stars portfolio of wines from Croatia, this pale ruby begins with a medium nose of red berry fruit with light spice. It's a melange of mediums, with medium plus acidity in a bed of red currants, raspberry, red plums, with a whisper strawberry note. A dry wine at 9 g/l residual sugar, it rings in at 12% a.b.v.

As an experiment, I tried this twice. The second time slightly chilled and...Voilà! It reminded me of a melted fruit berry popsicle! Delicious!

It's made from the Plavac Mali varietal, grown in the Peljesac region along Croatia's Dalmation coast. That sits just opposite Italy's Abruzzo region, across the Adriatic Sea. Plavac is an old varietal, descended from Zinfandel (Tribidrag in Croatia), and Dobricic, two indigenous varietals.

Enjoy alone as a great sipper or as recommended, pair with bratwurst, souvlaki or kebabs. It's also a formidable pairing with salt and vinegar chips.

1 Member would buy this wine again

Karen

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Badel Plavac Red 2018 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 89/100

Pricing & Stock Information

Reviews and Ratings