Kosovec 'Ovnek' Škrlet
Winery: Kosovec
Classification: Dry skin-contact White Wine
Varieties: 100% Škrlet
Appellation: Moslavina, central continental Croatia
Annual Production: 4,000 bottles
Alcohol: 12%
Climate: Typical continental climate, mild to high temperatures during the growing season, hot summers with moderate rainfall.
Terrain: 1 vineyard complex of 3 hectares on top of the hill with 15% incline, 200 meters a.s.l., the vineyard is south-facing, enabling the grapes to receive sufficient sunshine for better ripening, soil is sandy loam with up to 30% of sand.
Farming: Organic farming, not certified.
Vinification: Picked by hand at full ripeness, lightly crushed and 100% destemmed, 40% of the wine is macerated and fermented for 2 weeks without temperature control in open vats and the other 60% is immediately pressed, spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts with temperature control (max up to 20°C) in inox tank, after fermentation both wines were mixed together, aged in inox tank, no fining, no filtering and with use of minimum SO2.
Notes: Škrlet 'Ovnek' is a new cuvee for Ivan, where he has found a brilliant intersection of the bright and lively expression of Škrlet, along with some beautifully textured flavors through a portion of the blend fermented on the skins for a period of time.
The color immediately lets you know you are in for a treat, shining golden bronze in the glass and popping with rich notes on the nose of baked apple, honey blossom and touches of clove. The palate is broad and rich, while framed within wonderfully balanced acidity - notes of softened peaches, orange marmalade and crystallized ginger are well integrated with structure and a fantastically long finish.
'Ovnek' literally translates to 'ram" was the historic symbol of the Škrlet grape, as the clusters can resemble a rams head. It is also the official symbol of the Škrlet producers association. This partially macerated expression of Škrlet is an ode to tradition fused with the modern, and what an incredible balance it captures!
Winery Information
Kosovec
In a small rural village named Popovača, located in the Moslavina region about 60 kilometers southeast of Zagreb, lies the humble winery of Ivan Kosovec and his family. They own 3 hectares of vineyard (all planted in 2005) in one of the finest sites in the Moslavina region, with a total of 18,000 vines, which amounts to around 6,250 vines per hectare.
The primary focus here is the indigenous varietal Škrlet, once nearly extinct and now only grown in the Moslavina region. Additionally, Ivan cultivates other varieties such as Chardonnay, Zweigelt, Frankovka (Blaufränkisch), and Pinot Noir.