wineries

Memories of summer (8)! Because of Žilavka 2016 we came to the Milas winery and enjoyed the 2024 and 2021 plus Blatina 2018.

Published: 31.01.2026

Neighbours Wineries Travels Recommendations Žilavka Blatina Milas

Ivo Kozarčanin

Bakhov Sin

Why live poorly? Fried sardines, boiled potatoes and Brussels sprouts, a few tomatoes, an olive oil with a perfect 100-point score on Flos Olei, and the Milas Žilavka 2016... That is how I described the photo above, taken in Samobor in mid-September 2025, roughly two weeks after returning from a wonderful wine tour of Dalmatia and Herzegovina. It was precisely that 2016 Žilavka from the Milas winery that prompted the trip to Humac, near Ljubuški, to visit the winery of Zdenko and Tomislav Milas. This is the wine that, a few years back, finally convinced me of the variety's greatness, and I wanted to restock. I didn't succeed; that vintage was no longer on sale. Of course, the more recent Žilavkas were excellent, but not quite yet on the level of that renowned ten-year-old vintage. The miracle of time...

Memories of summer (8)! Because of Žilavka 2016 we came to the Milas winery and enjoyed the 2024 and 2021 plus Blatina 2018.

In late August at Humac we enjoyed the youthful vibrancy of the 2024 vintage alongside the hints of maturity offered by the 2021 harvest. I brought home a case of the 2019 Žilavka so I could track its evolution, from tomorrow and the days following, all the way to 2029, when it reaches its peak maturity. Although I hid the wines from myself, one is already missing. At Humac, we also enjoyed the 2018 Blatina, Herzegovinian prosciutto and cheese, and, above all, pleasant company. Here are some memories:

2617-Milas Žilavka na stolu — What will the 2024 vintage be like in 2034? We shall taste it...

2618-2. Milas Žilavka Zdenko i Tomislav — Father and son Tomislav and Zdenko Milas

2622-3.Milas cure u arhivi — Decent girls have their photos taken next to bottles...

2620-4. Milas prčkanje po arhivi — ...and Bacchus's rude son fiddles with the bottles

2623-5. Milas Inoks — After maturing in small barrels, the wines settle and harmonize in stainless steel tanks

2621-6. Milas B22 ili BB blatina 2022. u bačvici — The 2022 Blatina in the small barrels is...

2619-7. Milas Blatina 2018. kontraetiketa — ...and the 2018 Blatina seduces from the bottle

2625-9. Milas Zdenko Kad čuje da mu hvališ vino — The way Zdenko Milas smiles when you praise his wine

Selfie and other photos: Ivana Pranjić/Cork Croatia

Cover photo: Bakhov sin Ivo Kozarčanin

A Merlot video to wrap things up