Vranӕc (also Vranec or Vranac, pronounced VRAH-netz) is a red grape indigenous to the area that is present day Montenegro. It is believed to have been grown all the way back to the middle ages but was replanted after WWII when the Republic of Macedonia had become part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It was planted as a high yielding grape for domestic consumption. Palates of the local population have evolved over time to desire a higher quality wine. Vignerons have increased plantings of Vranec but worked to decrease yields to produce wines with greater concentration. Improvements in winemaking methods and equipment have also helped improve the quality. The name of the grape translates to Black Stallion due to its ‘untamed character’. DNA analysis has confirmed that it is an offspring of Tribidrag (Zinfandel). Similar to Tribidrag, it prefers the warm, mediterranean climates, like those of the Balkan peninsula. If you are interested in learning more about this grape, I recommend this video (it is about an hour long but informative and includes North Macedonia wine production!)
The wine I drank this week is a 2022 Jordanov Vranec from Tikves, North Macedonia. This wine is a deep ruby color that lightly stains the bowl of my glass when swirled. It has pronounced aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, thimbleberry, ripe black currant, and tobacco leaves. On the palate, I was surprised by the high level of tannin after reading it was closely related to Zinfandel. This dry wine is full bodied with a high level of alcohol but retains its acid well to help balance all the ripe, juicy black fruit notes. There are also brambly and dusty notes. These notes are reminiscent of my childhood home that was surrounded by brambles of different varieties. This is a well structured wine for the potency of the fruit character. It would pair well with a steak dinner, bbq, or other fatty cuts of red meat. It would also be good with aged cheeses and hearty stews. I sipped my glass with some pieces of young manchego, which was a great snack on a cold winter evening.
-TheLooseTannin
A Trip Around the World of Wine in 52 Weeks 