On the nose, initial fruity notes of fresh-squeezed cherry juice, both black and red, gave way to more complex notes of plum jam, violets, savory rhubarb, roasted herbs and earthy licorice fruit.  A noticeable but fleeting alcoholic vapor (the wine is 14.1% ABV) rose from the glass but quickly blew off, revealing a softer, rounder aroma profile that was sweet and seductive with old world charms: Mediterranean spice jar, sun-ripened black fruits, and an alluring earthiness.   

 

In my mouth this wine was all about ripe, sweet Morello cherries backed up by a harmony section comprised of dried figs, plums preserves, and a touch of cinnamon stick.  A decisive hint of residual sugar (perhaps a bit too much for my taste) fills out the body and holds the medium-plus acidity in check while maintaining a zippy cherry freshness.  On the finish, the soft, round tannins lingered and co-mingled with a pleasantly long finish that coated my tongue with a viscous perception of sweetness. Lirica is not oaked, but did spend some time in large old neutral wood vats.

 

Yes, I really enjoyed this wine.  But let’s also be clear-headed: this is an affordable and somewhat pedestrian expression of Plavac Mali, not a knock-your-socks-off, extreme extraction, multi-layered and densely packed creation that needs years in the cellar to settle down; it will never be granted access to Christie’s auction house.  While Plavac Mali, in the hands of producers such as Bura, Duboković, Korta Katarina, Madirazza, Miličić, Miloš and Plenković can deliver wines that will rock your world, Lirica is simply a focused, easy-drinking and accessible wine that will comfort and please you with its tasty, sophisticated rusticity. And it’s welcome through the doors of my house anytime….    

 

Pair this wine with Salumi and cured hams; feta or hard saline cheeses, and roasted sweet red peppers for a true taste of the Mediterranean life.  It’s also a winner with grilled lamb chops, osso buco – and pizza!  I had it with a bowl full of steaming steak strips tossed with Mediterranean vegetables, herbs and pasta, with a big chunk of crusty bread.  Life is good sometimes!