LIPOVAC | Model | Vranac | 2015
vranac | syrah

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Today we are going to review a very intriguing and in a way even unique wine from Montenegro – Model Vranac 2015 by Lipovac Winery. Vranac is a very old grape variety and a speciality of Montenegro. DNA researchers have determined that it is related to primitivo, suggesting that one is the parent of the other. The two are frequently blended together, but mostly vranac is produced as a single-varietal wine. Over half of all vineyards in Montenegro are planted with vranac, but it can also be found in Macedonia, Herzegovina and Croatia. Vranac has adapted well to the arid conditions in this part of the world. This particular wine is a blend of 80% vranac and 20% syrah, made of grapes that were sourced from the Zagarac Area vineyards, planted on stony soils (rich in minerals with good drainage) and has been aged for 15 months partly in french oak barrels and terracotta amphorae and partly in stainless steel tanks and earthenware jars, in order to preserve the varietal characteristics of the grapes and highlight those subtle local terroir notes. But enough theory, that said and without further ado, let’s take a look at the wine tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

//Visual
colour: deep ruby color
clarity: hazy garnet shades

//Olfactory
intensity: rich & mature
fruit profile: black fruits | dried fruits
__black fruits: black plum | black cherry | blackberry | aronia berry | black mulberry
__dried fruits: dried black plum | dried black cherry
fruit character: overripe & dried

//Flavor
non fruit: spice | oak | savory | earthy
__spice: peppercorn | cloves | anise
__oak: cherry tree bark | sun-dried oakwood | oaktree bark | cherry tree wood
__savory: leather | iron | veal | black olive | game | venison
__earthy: black soil | dust
primary layer: fruity-savory

//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: high
alcohol: medium+
tannin: medium+
__grip: ripe
balance: good
__dominant: acidity
body: round | medium+

//Taste
fruit profile: black fruits
fruit character: dried
non fruit: spice & earth
finish: medium
aftertaste: crisp & seedy

//Scoring
LIPOVAC | Model | Vranac | 2015
variety: vranac | syrah
country: Montenegro
region: Zagarac Area
rating: 93.4

//Conclusion
maturity: in its prime | drink now or within the next 2 years
verdict: great | a must try wine
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This is definitely a great wine of Montenegro and, with a total of 93.4 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.

Verdict: this is a very fine and appealing wine blend: crisp, seedy and voluptuous – a wine that is right there, at the peak of its prime form, yet one that has the potential to withstand 1 or 2 more years of bottle ageing. It feels plump, round and well balanced, with elevated acidity, ripe tannins and a touch of alcoholic warmth that is showing through on the mouthfeel. On the nose the wine delivers overripe and dried black fruits, mixed with some very nuanced savory notes in the foreground, supported by a delicate, spicy-earthy background and some subtle, oak-derived hints in between. All in all, this is a well structured wine with a harmonious palate and a savory accent on the nose – a wine that has its own distinctive personality and hints of the Montenegro terroir. We would suggest to drink this wine sooner rather than later, as it is always better to drink a wine a year too soon than a day too late.

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© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation.