Ante Sladić, Babić, Skradin, Dalmatia, Croatia, 2023

Tasted from a barrel sample, this 2023 Babić spent two years in barrel, with 33% new oak. It comes from rocky soils and very young, low-yielding vines. The aromatics are floral and evocative of Beaujolais, with mint, violet, and white pepper. The palate is spicy, with red cherries, cinnamon, and grape purple bubble gum notes from the carbonic maceration.