Lipovac Vranac Late Harvest "Soul" 2020 | Lipovac Vranac Late Harvest

■ Appearance: Deep, viscous garnet-black with slow-falling tears, transitioning from a dark ruby center to a subtle brick hue at the rim.

■ Nose: A rich bouquet of blueberry jam, blackcurrant, dried plum, and cherry compote, layered with decadent notes of dark chocolate, sweet Madagascan vanilla, old tobacco, and a hint of cinnamon.

■ Palate: Overwhelming volume and scale. The powerful tannins characteristic of Vranac have transformed into a luxurious, velvety smooth texture. The deep sweetness is perfectly balanced by vibrant, high natural acidity, leading to a long finish reminiscent of cherry liqueur pralines and smoky spices.

The "Black Stallion" Resurrected from Antiquity
Vranac, meaning "black stallion," perfectly embodies its deep black-blue skin and wild, powerful character. Vinarija Lipovac has combined this indigenous variety, native to the area around Lake Skadar, with ancient winemaking traditions using Georgian qvevri and terracotta amphorae, registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The grapes were left on the vine to naturally appassimento (dry) and lose moisture. After rigorous hand-sorting, maceration took place in terracotta amphorae and Georgian qvevri buried underground. Due to the extremely high natural sugar content, alcoholic fermentation stopped naturally. Afterward, it was aged for a long period in small French oak barrels (barriques) in a cellar 10 meters underground, acquiring the final complexity of tertiary aromas.

To fully appreciate the true value of this wine, with its overwhelming volume and balanced sweetness, it calls for powerful, complex, and flavorful dishes:

• ■ Aged Blue Cheese (such as Roquefort or Gorgonzola) – The sharp, salty intensity of blue cheese beautifully contrasts with the rich dark fruit sweetness and high extract of the wine.
• ■ Game Stewed in Red Wine – The umami and earthy notes of the meat perfectly harmonize with the wine's aged aromas of leather, earth, and old tobacco.
• ■ High-Quality Dark Chocolate (70% cacao or more) – The bitterness of cacao perfectly enhances the wine's sweet vanilla, coffee, and cherry liqueur praline notes.

Serving Temperature: 14℃〜16℃ (Enjoy its inherent richness at this temperature range)

Građani & Zagorač ("Vineyards in the Clouds")
Cultivated on ancient stone-walled terraces up to 9 meters high at an altitude of 400 meters. The rocky, limestone-rich clay soil allows the vines to root deeply, while the stone walls act as passive radiators, absorbing solar heat during the day and releasing it at night. Constant winds from the Adriatic Sea prevent disease, allowing the grapes to naturally dry on the vine without rotting.