Filip prepared us for Majestic, a name signifying magnificence, with two younger yet equally excellent sparkling wines made from the Debit variety. Bibić Brut spent three years on the lees, followed by another three years in the bottle under a champagne cork. It is rustic in style, offering lovely aromas of white fruit accompanied by subtle yeasty notes. The taste is refined, fresh, and juicy, with a creamy texture.
We drank half of the Majestic halfway through its journey, and have now released the other half
Bibich Limited Brut spent five years on the lees, followed by three years in the bottle. Its deep, old-gold hue suggests a mature wine, while yellow fruit defines its aroma and flavor profile. It is rich, powerful, and full-bodied. The base wine was aged in oak barrels, contributing to its great complexity, alongside a barely perceptible level of volatile acidity that, far from being a flaw, adds character.
The 2021 Babić displays a vibrant ruby hue; while not yet fully tamed, it is sufficiently ready and exciting. Rich spicy notes define its aromatic profile, with sour cherry and sweet cherry emerging from the background. It is very fresh and juicy, full-bodied, and features well-integrated alcohol at 15.5 per cent. The tannic structure is pronounced, yet the tannins are fully ripe, particularly those derived from high-quality oak. A bright future lies ahead for this wine.
We have 25 hectares of vineyards within a radius of 25 kilometers in 100 locations, so we can play
The Sangreal Merlot 2017 is an exceptionally exciting and somewhat atypical wine. It is a wine of distinct character, boasting a broad aromatic profile and deep flavor. On the nose, spicy notes are prominent, while fruit aromas appear discreetly yet remain present. The palate mirrors the nose, enriched by ripe tannins and vibrant freshness. It has a long finish and significant aging potential. We recently opened the 2006 vintage; it was excellent, and we have a cellar reserve dating back to 2001, said Filip Bibić.
We experience hot days in Plastovo and the surrounding area, but the nights are cold; even in July, we still sleep under covers. We currently bottle around 150,000 bottles, though we reduce that volume each year. The winery has 40 employees and produces 40 different labels, with 12 or 13 intended for the mass market. The rest are produced for our loyal special clients, and these wines vary from year to year. After all, the terroirs differ, even though the vineyards are only about a hundred meters apart. In Plastovo alone, we have both flat fields and rocky terrain, Filip explains.
We will plant more and more vines, yet produce less and less wine. That way, we won't need to make compromises
The climate is changing, grape varieties are changing, and the wines are changing too, he added, noting that they harvested the 2024 Maraština incredibly early, as early as July 15th. We touched upon many other topics and tasted several more wines, and we will certainly taste many more in the future. And as they mature, an increasing number of them will bear the signature of Filip Bibić, to the growing pride of Vesna and Alen Bibić.
