88-90
Jeb Dunnuck - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"The 2013 Barovo is another inky-colored, ripe and hedonistic wine that’s a blend of Kratosija and Vranec (both varieties are native to Macedonia). Completely destemmed and aged in 75% new barrels, it has a textured, medium-bodied, beautifully pure style on the palate, as well as rock solid notes of blackberries, crushed herbs, pepper and licorice. Like the Bela Voda, there’s no track record with regards to aging, yet I’d be shocked if it wasn’t still drinking nicely in 2023."
Product Description:
The 2013 Barovo is made 65% from the indigenous grape
Kratosija and 35% from the other indigenous grape, Vranec, and
aged 12 months in French oak. The wine is soft, ripe and reminded
me of one of Larry Turley’s less-potent Zinfandels that he is so
famous for producing. The alcohol is around 14% and the wine
shows ripe, heady, briary raspberry and black cherry fruit,
Mediterranean roasted herbs, earth, pepper and spice. It is
impressive, but does come across as a very well-made and supple
Zinfandel. This is very good value from the Republic of Macedonia.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
I wrote about these wines that are made with the consulting help of
famous Rhône oenologist Philippe Cambie that are emerging from
Macedonia, which has a wine-producing history of more than
2,000 years. They are consistently terrific bargains all made from
indigenous varietals planted in Macedonia at relatively lofty
altitudes of 1,500 feet or more. The low humidity of the area
encourages healthy grapes, which can be seen in the purity and
authenticity of these wines.
