Cuvée No.1 (2012)

About this wine

This wine is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Blaufränkisch from the Subotica vineyards near Palić in northern Serbia, an area influenced by the old Pannonian Sea and its limestone and loam rich soils. In the glass it shows a deep ruby color and opens with aromas of blackberry, black currant and ripe cherry, layered with notes of wild plum, graphite and a hint of mint tea from its time in small oak barrels. On the palate it is concentrated yet polished, with dark forest fruit, black cherry and cassis framed by ripe but firm tannins and fresh acidity. Subtle tones of cocoa, vanilla and sweet spice appear on the mid palate, giving a creamy texture without losing definition or grip. The finish is long and savory, carrying flavors of black cherry, dried plum and cocoa. Cuvée No.1 has become one of the most decorated Serbian red wines, with multiple gold medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards, and this 2012 vintage reflects that track record in its balance of power, complexity and elegance.

About the grape

Cabernet Franc is one of the original Bordeaux grapes, known for ripening reliably in cooler climates, and in Subotica it gives Cuvee No.1 its structure, fine tannins and an herbal spicy backbone that handles the warm summers on the Pannonian plain. Merlot, which likely originated in Bordeaux as well, brings generous fruit, color and mid palate weight, and in this vineyard area it is often planted on slightly deeper clay and loam so it can retain moisture and achieve full ripeness for the core of the blend. Blaufrankisch, locally called Frankovka, is a historic Central European variety that has long been grown across the Pannonian basin, and here it adds lively acidity and firm yet ripe tannins that help the wine age while still expressing a regional Serbian identity. In this bottling all three varieties are typically harvested and vinified separately, then blended to balance the softer Merlot with the more structured Cabernet Franc and Blaufrankisch before a period of aging in small oak barrels that polishes their combined character.

Quick facts

• 🏆 Cuvée No.1 is the only Serbian wine that has taken a gold medal three years in a row at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards making it a national trophy wine
• 🌊 The grapes grow on former Pannonian Sea seabed near Subotica where vines tap into ancient layers of limestone clay and silicate stones which gives the wine a very distinctive character
• 🎤 This cuvée was designed as the flagship red of singer Zvonko Bogdan’s winery so it quietly links Balkan folk music fame with modern Serbian fine wine in one bottle
• 🌍 Cuvée No.1 is crafted from a blend that includes the Central European variety Blaufränkisch locally called Frankovka alongside Bordeaux classics which makes it a rare East meets West red blend
• 🍷 Each vintage is made in relatively small volumes from about eight hectares of vines with low yields per hectare so no more than roughly twenty four thousand bottles are produced making it a bit of a cult find

Palate profile

Producer

Vinarija Zvonko Bogdan is a modern winery founded in 2008 in the historic winegrowing area around Lake Palić in northern Serbia. The estate is named after Zvonko Bogdan, a celebrated local singer of traditional songs whose artistic legacy the winery connects with its wines and hospitality. Its striking building, designed in the Pannonian secession style, houses state of the art French technology, spacious tasting rooms and a restaurant that overlooks the surrounding vineyards. The winery farms its own vineyards on several nearby sites and has quickly gained international recognition for wines that aim to express the character of the Palić terroir while honoring a regional winemaking tradition that is more than two millennia old.