2013 Vinaria din Vale Fetească Albă, Moldova, Wine Review

This white wine seemed to be a love it or hate it wine when tried amongst a small group of tasters. Made from the Fetească Albă grape. This is 8 years old. The label carried a Decanter Awards Silver Medal sticker from 2014. Deep golden in color, clear and bright. The nose is more about minerals at this point with sea air and just a touch of cinnamon. Light to medium bodied. On the palate, slightly sour orange marmalade with just a hint of diesel. Nice acidity. The salinity comes back on the long finish. This probably needs to be consumed sooner than later. It would be nice to try a more recent vintage. Works better with food, it worked well with soft cheeses.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2013

Current Price:

$17.00USD

2017 Purcari Negru de Purcari, Moldova, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$40.00USD

This is Moldova's most famous wine. It was apparently Quenn Victoria's favorite and Queen Elizabeth gets a case every year. Who knew? If served blind, I would likely guess Bordeaux 5th growth or perhaps a Sonoma Cab (Beringer Knight's Valley Reserve?). Not to slight Modova as it would never enter my guessing knowledge. If there was a complaint that in a tasting of Moldovan wines, it is not exotic or unusual which is a bit un fair. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Saperavi 25%, Rara Neagra 5%. It spends 18 months in French oak barrels. Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim, o

2018 Suvorov-Vin Viorica Kazayak, Moldova, Wine Review

Vintage:

2018

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$16.00USD

This is a white wine made in Moldova from the Viorica grape and vinified in stainless steel. Light yellow gold in color, clear and bright. The nose is very floral with a touch of lime peel. Light to Medium bodied. Oily texture. The floral quality continues to the palate. There is also a tart citrus note. Long finish. The wine has a familiar quality while at the same time being just a bit different. I would be happy to drink this on a nice summer day. Drink over the next couple years as floral notes usually fade (my first Viorica grape so just a guess). It drinks nicely on its own

2018 Gitana Winery Rară Neagră, Moldova, Wine Review

Vintage:

2018

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$15.00USD

Gitana means Gypsy. Made from the Rară Neagră grape, this is garnet in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is earthy and dusty with black and red raspberries and a hint of spice. On the palate, nice black raspberries. Lots of depth. Black cherries on the long finish. This is drinking well now. Very unique compared to the same old, same old grapes. Drink over the next five to seven years (maybe more). This ould be a nice match with roasted fowl or pork dishes. A really nice value!

2016 Gitana Winery Lupi Rezerva, Moldova, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$26.00USD

Lupi mean wolves. A very nice showing for this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Saperavi that was aged for a period of 10-12 months in 225l barrels and aged for at least 2 years in oak barrels from Krasnodar (Russia). Purple in color, garnet at the rim. The nose has black cherries with a hint of smoked tobacco ash. Very interesting. With air a bit of black coffee. Medium to full bodies. On the palate, black raspberries, cherries, a bit of dried currants and slight earthiness. Strong backbone of acidity. Long finish. A really interesting wine with depth and complexity. Tast

2013 Vinaria din Vale Fetească Albă, Moldova, Wine Review

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