The joint wine of winemaker and nurseryman Ivica Dobrinčić from the Vrbnik-based Šipun Winery and one of the most respected Croatian sommeliers Klaudij Jurčić, Žlahtina Hlam 9 vertical vintages 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, was presented to the professional public of Kvarner at the Wine&Co wine shop in Rijeka. In addition to the tasting of Žlahtina Hlam 9, the Hlam 4 wine was also presented for the first time. Hlam 4 is a blend of Sansigot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, for which the vines were planted in the Hlam vineyard near Vrbnik.
The Šipun winery is known for its wines made from indigenous grape varieties Žlahtina, Trojišćina and Sansigot, and the winemaker and nurseryman Ivica Dobrinčić, rightly dubbed the Croatian wine Indiana Jones in the media, is a pioneer in the protection of indigenous grape varieties. In addition to the listed wines, the winery also presented the sparkling wine made from Žlahtina Maličić, which this year was voted the best sparkling wine in Croatia by the public on the wine portal vinskiklubhr, as well as the Sansigot vintages of 2010 and 2022. The 2017 Bordeaux blend Kapitul, which is now being released on the market, is certainly one of the most appreciated red wines in the region.
“Given our long-standing friendship and shared vision when it comes to the potential of Žlahtina, the joint wine project was inevitable. The collaboration with the charismatic winemaker Ivica Dobrinčić came about spontaneously and without any burden, we were guided by the idea of making a wine without compromise with an emphasis on terroir. The wine „HLAM 9“ also bears the name of the location where the vineyard is located and my lucky number 9. The intention was to make a different Žlahtina, to try to develop the „old fashioned“ style that it once was. The wine is macerated, fermented with natural yeasts, and after racking it spontaneously clarifies without filtration and without any enological aids. As such, it has a slightly deeper straw color, intense and complex aromatics, an elegant body, and feels soft and juicy in the mouth. The wine is a deeper straw color, with intense fine fruit aromas such as ripe apple, pear and peach intertwined with aromas of Mediterranean herbs and white flowers. "It tastes fresh, has a lighter body, a smooth texture, and is complex, with a pleasant bitterness in the finish. I would recommend this wine with cold and warm appetizers, grilled fish, and white meat," said Klaudio Jurčić at the tasting.
“Kapitul is a red wine, a blend of three grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (70 %), Merlot (25 %) and Petit Verdot (5 %). The vineyard is located near Vrbnik, in the Hlam location. The technological processing of this wine is characterized by aging for 2 years in oak barrique barrels and then maturing in bottles for another 2 years. Although the concept of our winery is indigenous grape varieties, we decided to produce a Bordeaux blend from introduced varieties somewhat on a whim. My friends often teased me about producing wines from some local grape varieties, and since these wines were unknown to them, they always told me that I could tell them whatever I wanted and put whatever I wanted in the bottle. That is how Kapitul was created, which they could then compare to any other red blend blend as a known „formula“. Today, the appreciation and awareness of the importance and value of indigenous varieties is much greater, so my friends„ thinking has changed. Although our goal is not to increase the amount of grapes of introduced varieties or to introduce such new ones, Kapitul remains as a "test" of the Hlam location and as proof that this area can produce so-called great wines comparable to many others in this category anywhere in the world. The respected wine expert Mr. Saša Špiranec ranked Kapitul among the three candidates for entry into the class of great Croatian red wines, which we, as a small family winery, are particularly proud of," emphasized Ivica Dobrinčić.
If you need additional information about wine, please contact Ivica Dobrinčić at 091/5087027 or Klaudij Jurčić at 091/1277379.
For any additional information, feel free to contact us by e-mail vina.kvarnera@gmail.com or mobile phone +385 91 763 9776.
Kvarner Wines Media Team
