UNICORN ESTATE | Equilibrium | Cabernet Sauvignon – Merlot – Rara Neagra | 2016
cabernet sauvignon | merlot | rara neagra

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Tonight we are going to review a wine blend that is vinified in a kind of a Bordeaux-style – Equilibrium Cabernet Sauvignon – Merlot – Rara Neagra 2016 by Unicorn Estate. This is a blend of two international varieties in cabernet sauvignon and merlot, and an indigenous variety in rara neagra, which in fact, is a quite famous blending formula, where cabernet sauvignon forms the main body and structure, merlot adds smoothness and rounds up the final blend, while rara neagra brings that element of local terroir. The wine is part of the ‘Equilibrium‘ wine line, concepted to appeal to the taste of a wide range of consumers: from mere wine enthusiasts to wine experts alike. But let’s skip all this boring theory and, without further ado, let’s move on, straight to the wine tasting!
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

Visual
Deep and hazy ruby color with pale crimson shades towards the rim of the glass.

Olfactory
The nose is rich, filled mostly with black & red fruits and some savory-meaty flavours: black plum, black mulberry, black raspberry, blackcurrant, sour cherry, ripe blackberry, leather, black soil dust and cherry tree wood. An instant later the nose is filled with nuanced notes of roasted oakwood, iron, black pepper, nutmeg, cloves and some hints of barnyard and capocollo meat.

Gustatory
The wine is dry, with high alcohol level, high acidity and ripe tannin. It feels fruity, seedy and savory-meaty, with a nuanced ripe and crisp accent. This is a quite round, lean and supple wine, as it tastes noble, plump and maybe just a bit bitter and a bit wider than expected. The wine has a fair overall balance, with a touch of alcoholic warmth showing through, with an opulent mouthfeel, as it lacks some structure and finesse on the palate.

Aftertaste
The wine has a long finish and an balanced, seedy-crisp aftertaste.
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This is definitely a fine wine of Moldova and, with a total of 90.7 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 nice example of a wine that is still on the rise, as in its current state it lacks a bit of structure and finesse on the palate. With a seedy-tart finale, this wine needs a bit of time to build some complexity and, why not, elegance. It has a quite good ageing potential (about 2 more years) and is evolving nicely in the glass – this is a wine that requires a bit of time to settle down and round up its edges, therefore we would strongly suggest for at least 15 minutes of aeration prior serving. We would recommend to pair this wine with meaty dishes that are rich in natural umami flavours, like for example a beef carpaccio with parmesan cheese or a classic beef tartare with capers. Cheers!

WineStatistics tasting results:

UNICORN ESTATE
Equilibrium | Cabernet Sauvignon – Merlot – Rara Neagra | 2016

grape: | cabernet sauvignon | merlot | rara neagra |

region: Moldova | Stefan-Voda

overall rating: | 90.7 |

maturity: on the rise

conclusion: fine | (highly 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.