VINARTE | Prince Mircea | Merlot Rezerva | 2017
merlot

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Today we are are going to review a single varietal merlot wine that comes from the Mehedinti-Starmina wine are of Romania – Prince Mircea Merlot Rezerva 2017 by Vinarte. Domeniile Vinarte was founded back in 1998, and today it is proudly owning the three vineyards that are considered amongst the best terroirs in Romania: Samburesti, Starmina and Zoresti. Today’s wine is part of the Prince Mircea range – a collection of single varietal wines that represent the main grape varieties and terroirs of Domaine Vinarte. The collection is named after Prince Mircea of Romania, the third son and youngest child of King Ferdinand of Romania and Marie of Edinburgh. He was also the great-grandson of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland through his mother, Queen Maria of Romania. But we digress, talking about merlot, it is usually regarded as the underdog to the highly priced cabernet sauvignon or cabernet franc varieties, but make no mistake, merlot wine is first class, as it is more versatile and ripens earlier than both cabernet grapes, responds well to oak ageing and can be grown in both, cool climate and warm climate regions with the same success. This particular wine has been produced from the estate’s best merlot grapes sourced from the vineyards of the Mehedinti-Starmina area, and in order to soften the tannins and add a layer of extra complexity, the wine has been aged for 12 months in oak barriques. That said and without further ado, let’s take a look at the wine tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

//Visual
color: deep & opaque garnet color
clarity: hazy garnet shades on the rim

//Olfactory
intensity: rich & mature
fruit character: dehydrated & dried

On the first nose the wine opens up with an intriguing mix of dried and dehydrated red fruit aromas. Think of dried cranberries, dehydrated plums or sour cherries that are past their prime ripeness, thus offering a concentrated richness that leans towards a raisinated character. This dried fruit character hints at some potential oxidation due to extended aging in the bottle. Woven throughout these primary aromatics, savory notes of barnyard and old leather peek through. While these can be extremely polarizing in the world of wine connoisseurs, some consider that they add a layer of complexity that is often referred to as “brett” character. As the wine aerates, some whispers of earthiness emerge in the background, like freshly turned loam or clay, complemented by subtle hints of spice and oak that add a touch of intrigue.

//Palate
sweetness: dry | acidity: medium+ | alcohol: high | tannin: high | balance: good
finish: medium- | aftertaste: astringent

The palate mirrors the nose, offering a wave of dehydrated red fruit flavors, with hints of dried cranberry and prune. Earthy and oaky hints emerge here as well, but they struggle to compete with the prominence of the dried fruit. On the mouthfeel, the wine’s crisp acidity cuts through the richness of the fruit, yet feels a touch sharp on the edges. The tannins are present and quite astringent, leaving a slightly rough and seedy texture on the mid-palate. A more concerning aspect is the prominent alcoholic warmth, which feels overwhelming on the palate and lingers into the aftertaste. The finish is astringent and is dominated by the alcoholic heat, leaving the overall impression of a somewhat disjointed and unbalanced wine.

//Verdict
maturity: past its prime | will not improve | drink today
verdict: fine | highly recommended | a wine of premium quality with good potential

All in all this wine opens with an intriguing nose of dried red fruit aromas, highlighted by a challenging savory-bretty character, earthy hints, and subtle oak influence. On the palate, the wine’s crisp acidity feels a touch sharp, while the prominent seedy tannins leave the mouthfeel slightly rough and even angular. An overwhelming alcoholic warmth overshadows the fruit, further disrupting the harmony of the wine. The finish is astringent and dominated by the heat from the alcohol. This is a merlot wine that displays some hints of varietal typicity, but lacks the roundness and elegance expected from a top-tier example. The prominent tannins, the astringency in the aftertaste, and the overwhelming warmth, all contribute to a disjointed and somewhat harsh mouthfeel.

//Scoring
VINARTE | Prince Mircea | Merlot Rezerva | 2017
variety: merlot
country: Romania | Oltenia
region: Mehedinti-Starmina
rating: 92.2
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This is definitely a fine wine of Romania and, with a total of 92.2 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.

Pairing: Judging by the wine’s focus on dried red fruits and those nuanced savory-brett hints, we believe it would be best suited for bold and flavorful dishes that can stand up to the wine’s astringent tannins and nuanced alcoholic warmth. Grilled flank steak with black bean salsa would be a lovely pairing option, as the richness of the veal would hold up to the tannins in the wine, while the black bean salsa would add a contrasting sweetness and the much desired textural elements. Another pairing option might be the a hard cheeses board, like aged cheddar or gouda. These cheeses have a bold enough flavor profile to match the wine’s boldness, and the fat textures of the cheese would help soften the the astringent tannins of the wine, which would elevate the overall tasting experience. Cheers!

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