The Sauvignon Blanc 2024 was the most pleasant surprise of the presentation of Pilato wines — the winery hails from the village of Lašići near Vižinada — held at Vrutak in Zagreb on 11 June 2025. All the varietal typicity is present in this wine grown on Istria’s red soil (terra rossa). Harmony and balance are in excellent synergy; the intensity on the nose is good but not overstated, with no dominant green, pyrazine notes. The palate follows the nose well: it is full and rich, and the high extract reins in the alcohol effortlessly. The finish is long.
An understated nose and a rich palate define the Sauvignon Blanc 2024.
The Pinot Blanc 2024 was also a very pleasant surprise. A fresh wine made in stainless steel, it is very harmonious, well covered in every detail, and has yet to reach its peak. It is worth noting that few such wines are on the market and that they are highly food-friendly. My impression is that this one would gain added value from ageing in larger-format oak barrels.
The Pilato wines were presented by sommelier Krešimir Kožić
With the Malvazija Sur Lie 2020, the impression is that the winemaker stretched the variety to its very limit without crossing it. In craft terms, he did the job perfectly. Prolonged ageing on fine lees in small barrels yielded a rich, full-bodied wine of oily, creamy texture. The floral aromas typical of Malvazija break through the vanilla, so the variety can be identified — which, with this style of vinification, is often not the case. A wine that sparked debate and divided the audience. 
The hall at Vrutak was full
The Grand Cuvée 2018 is an aristocratic wine of intriguing composition: 60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 percent Merlot and 10 percent Teran. The aromas are rich and layered, of a fruity-spicy character, while the palate is opulent and powerful yet elegant enough. The tannins are ample and ripe, with excellent synergy between grape and oak. A long, memorable wine — one of the finer Croatian red blends.
Martin Matić of Vrutak, sommelier Krešimir Kožić, and journalists Željko Suhadolnik and Ivo Kozarčanin
The Rosé of Teran, seasoned with five percent Merlot, is also distinctive. It is completely dry, delicately aromatic, with a rich palate and lovely acidity that it owes, of course, to Teran. And very well priced: a bottle costs 9.99 euros. The Malvazija 2024 is an entirely honest wine, not driven by yeast, with understated varietal aromas. It is medium-bodied, with pronounced acidity and a fine palate. The winemaker stood bravely behind the variety and, with minimal intervention, produced an excellent Malvazija.
The audience included sommeliers, wine merchants, journalists and wine lovers
For the Chardonnay 2024, almost everything said of the Pinot Blanc holds, except that it is a touch fuller-bodied. It is good, but unlikely to stand out amid the abundant offering of wines from this variety. The Merlot 2021 is a ready wine; the only quibble is that it is a little thin, and it would be worth keeping it for some time yet. There seems to be room for it to develop.
Photographs: Marko Čolić
12 June 2025
