Plavac Mali
A red grape variety grown in Croatia along the Dalmatian coast and the nearby Adriatic islands. In late 2001, DNA fingerprinting determined that Plavac Mali was a descendant of Crljenak Kastelanski, a Croatian variety determined to be identical to Zinfandel. So as many have speculated, there is a relationship between Zinfandel and Plavac Mali, but they are not identical. The wines produced from Plavac Mali can be deeply colored, full-bodied (see body), and high in alcohol and tannins.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.