Marastina, Debit, Plavina, Lasin, Dalmatia, Croatia 

This wine is unexpectedly animated and gesticulates wildly as it recounts the stories of its life. Vinas Mora is a winegrowers' cooperative near Split, Primošten that started thanks to former NY somm and importer Kreso Petrekovic. Situated on COMPLETELY barren limestone rocks just a few meters above sea level, theirs is a terroir that is unlike many others. ‘Barbba’ consists of two white grapes, the herbal marastina and zingy debit, and two red grapes, sweet-scented plavina and low-tannin lasin (aka the pinot noir of Dalmatia), all autochthonous (a beautiful, fancy word for regional) grape varieties in Dalmatia. Co-fermented, the first half is macerated on the skins for about 24 hours and quickly pressed off, to maintain JuiCiNesS, the second half goes for four days longer to squeeze out more succulent structure. The meeting place of sand and soil, wilting geraniums, hibiscus stamen, pomegranate bubblegum, olive branch & taking a bite of a strawberry before feeding the rest to someone else. Try with a 1 year pepper jack, 2 year comté & 10 year cheddar.