DZUMAJLIJA wine tasting in restaurant IMES on 9 October 2008

Veritas Zilavka 2004

This shiny light lemony golden painted Zilavka was bottled in a long Alsace bottle and was produced for the US marked. I found the aromas rather difficult to pin down but after intensive swirling a discrete nose of dry wheat’s, grape fruit, hay and gentle lanolin wax hints. Pronounced acidity with underlying citrus and grape fruit on the palate. Oxidative hints of a fine vin Jaune de Chalon. Most intriguing effort. Fascinating and I would suggest eminent drinking.

Zilavka 2006

Lighter in blush than the 2006 with a light lemon yellow core and just the barest hint of a green tinge. This 2006 has a discrete bouquet of grassy citrus, grape fruit and pineapple with complimentary floral, mineral and green apple aromas. A harmonious round balanced taste, fine and upright on entry with a lick of pineapple and grape fruit coming through. More lemon and limes. Served cool a great summer wine. Lovely substance at this price.

Chardonnay 2006

Pale light yellow wine with a tinge of gold. There’s some generous fresh fruit on the muzzle, with juicy limes and citrus fruits as well as an opulent mineral white flower sweetness. Nice crispy presence on entry but its expressive layered exotic, grassy, citrus, green apple appreciation is marred somewhat by an, although subtle, whiff of bitterness in the end. Fresh, crisp and modern made wine in favour of fish, chicken, white sauce and cheese tables.

Veritas Merlot 2004

A very youthful red-purple shade without the orange brown tinge of aging. The nose is attractively gorgeous, but also quite complex, offering soft classic aromas of matured ripe small red and cherry fruits with a very subtle hint of humus undergrowth showing similar soft nicely composed mature red fruit on the palate, followed by present dry tannins at the finish. Fine flattering composition.

Merlot 2006

Fairly darker tinted than its 2004 predecessor. Still much closed, but after massive swirling we get a sweet dark red and blue berry fruit front with elegant walk in the forest aromas. Good definition on the palate with a nice dry texture of ripe red and blue berry fruits. Tannins and acidity are well integrated and give the wine a good fleshy presence, which makes it a generous round ripe merlot for your immediate pleasure.

Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

In dye identical to the 2006 Merlot backed up with the same much closed nose. Paralyzing my right arm and wrist from swirling the nose surrendered itself with lots of small red currant fruits and discrete cassis. The palate offered nice hints of undergrowth covered by ripe crispy red berry, cassis fruits, cooked milk and according to my most elegant and charming friend Ivana a stroke of brown sugar. Silky soft modern made wine with pleasant finish. I couldn’t agree more!

Kadarka 2005

Medium red purple decorated Vranec wine. Soft candy, ripe pomegranate, port like beak with a luscious ripe red current fruit fragrant followed by a surprisingly sumptuous sweet savour of grenadine candy, delicious ripe mix of red blue berry fruits embracing a very discrete point of dark chocolate. Supple tannins complement this French Collioure, Maury style of wine. A real yum although this style of wine doesn’t pleases every one, it’s in my opinion most exciting…especially for the devotees.

Vranec

This very radiant red highlighted Vranec poured out of a one litre bottle without vintage indication offered slightly bitter aromas of red currant fruits and peppery watercress. On the palette sour cherries, red currants and some hints of water melon with some bitter tannins in the finish. Although light weight in style, the acidity comes well balanced. A bargain table wine.

By Willy