F’AUTOR | *310 Altitudine | Merlot – Feteasca Neagra | 2018
merlot | feteasca neagra

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The wine we are going to review tonight is neither new nor old, as it was released on the market a couple of seasons ago, yet it is still relatively unnoticed by the wine lovers – *310 Altitudine Merlot – Feteasca Neagra 2018 from Fautor Winery. This is a rosé wine blend that is made of merlot and feteasca neagra grape varieties, where merlot forms the main body and structure, while rara neagra adds the primary fruit flavours to the final blend. The wine is also part of the *310 Altitudine wine series, that is made of fresh, appealing and easy to drink wines, but, let’s get rid of the theory – on to the tasting!
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

Visual
Pale salmon-pink color with pastel-peach shades towards the rim of the glass.

Olfactory
The nose is strong, filled mostly with sweet berry fruits and hints of floral flavours: strawberry, raspberry, pink mirabelle, strawberry candy, pink nectarine, sweet cherry, ripe wolfberry, berberry candy, red delicious apple, rose hips, chalkstone and some subtle hints of watermelon.

Gustatory
The wine is dry, with high alcohol level, high acidity and firm tannin. This is a quite lean, opulent and a bit rough rosé wine, with a zesty-crisp profile, as it tastes fruity and angular, with a touch of alcoholic warmth on the mouthfeel. It has a fair overall balance, with delicate mineral hints and overwhelming acidity, as it feels tart and a bit green.

Aftertaste
The wine has a medium finish and a crisp, rough yet opulent aftertaste.
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This is definitely a good wine of Moldova and, with a total of 89.7 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.

Conclusion: this is a quite crisp, and at the same time rough, rosé wine which is almost there, in its peak form, yet due to its angularity, this is a wine that is not worth further ageing, as it lacks both, character and elegance. Our recommendation is to drink this wine right here and right now, as long as it is still young and beautiful and not rely on the ageing variable. In order to smoothen its angles, pair this wine with any sweet-sauce based dishes, or dishes that are rich in natural fat and smooth textures, like for example chinese plum & chicken stir fry or smoked salmon and cream cheese bruschetta. Cheers!

WineStatistics tasting results:

F’AUTOR
*310 Altitudine | Merlot – Feteasca Neagra | 2018

grape: | merlot | feteasca neagra |

region: Moldova | Valul lui Traian

overall rating: | 89.7 |

maturity: in its prime

conclusion: good | (recommended)

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© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation.