Barrel aging has beautifully shaped Frankovka Miraz 2018 from Enosophia winery in Feričanci. Even today, the oak gently embraces the typical dark fruit character of the variety, while the palate is refined, broad, and lusciously smooth. After six years, this “black Slavonian queen” still retains enough freshness to pair with local meat dishes such as stews and goulash, as well as lighter roasted cuts with some fat content.
Not always younger means better
It even outperformed the one-year-younger Frankovka Miraz — and that is not a criticism. The 2019 vintage was also very good and would have impressed on its own, had it not been for its more mature “sister.”
Enologists Ivana Nemet and Matija Vasilj, along with marketing and wine tourism specialist Jenette Marija Šimić, prepared an exclusive Frankovka vertical tasting for Pro Wine. Alongside the two mentioned vintages, it also included Miraz Frankovka 2008, as well as Frankovka 2006 and 2003 from the period before the Miraz brand existed.
Luka Modrić
The mature Miraz 2008 showed how younger Frankovkas might evolve in another decade. Part of it was aged in concrete tanks, part in horizontal vinimatics that enhance maceration of red wines, and part in barrels. It shows beautiful tertiary aromas with fine pepper and violet notes, while the palate is calm and composed — in short, a wine in “Luka Modrić form.”
Frankovka Barrique 2006 became such a hit upon release that it was also bottled in special editions for the LADO folk ensemble. Today, oak is still noticeable, but well integrated. It is lush, almost like unsweetened black fruit compote.
Wines are like people
They pair excellently with a good steak, but can also be enjoyed on their own as the perfect finish to a dinner. The 2003 Frankovka shows that wines, like people, evolve. When they are in their best years, we call them mature but eventually, even maturity gives way to old age.
The hosts also presented an outstanding Syrah Miraz 2019.
The Syrah Miraz 2019 was also presented and was the best Croatian wine at this year’s Mundus Vini tasting in Neustadt an der Weinstraße, in Germany’s renowned Pfalz wine region. It also won gold last year at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in Yinchuan, China.
The less there is, the more valuable it becomes
Its aroma is dominated by dark fruit, rose petals, and subtle oak notes. Hints of leather and wet earth add depth, while herbal tones bring freshness. Firm structure, elegant tannins, and pleasant acidity ensure balance, the judges noted. A bottle originally cost €14; only about 300 bottles remained, pushing the price up to €75.
The winery was founded at the beginning of this century in a building dating back to 1804. Originally used for grain storage, it now houses wine aged in 187 oak barrels of 225 litres each. In 2020, they built a new cellar with a capacity of 500,000 litres, and a year later Feravino was renamed Enosophia. They own around 150 hectares of vineyards across nine locations, with Goveđa glava being the most prestigious.
Ice harvest 2018
Their commitment to Frankovka is also shown in the rosé version under the Dika label, the red Dika blend with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in Sinergo Crno, and single-label wines such as Lingua Franka and Miraz cuvées. They also produced an ice wine harvest in 2018.
They are equally dedicated to Graševina. Their Brut sparkling wine is made from Graševina using the tank method. It is also bottled as a still wine in the Dika line, and blended with Chardonnay and Sauvignon in Sinergo White. From the 2020 vintage they produced a single-varietal Graševina Goveđa glava, as well as the more complex dry wine Trs No. 5.
Royal Memoria
The grapes come from 30-year-old vineyards in Goveđa glava and Ravno brdo, aged three months on fine lees in stainless steel. For more on Enosophia’s recent awards, including the excellent sparkling wine Memoria based on Riesling, see further coverage.
