TIMBRUS | Oenologist Reserve | Chardonnay | Barrel Fermented | 2018
chardonnay

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Tonight we are going to review a quite special wine – Oenologist Reserve Chardonnay Barrel Fermented 2018 by Timbrus. Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular grape variety, regarded by many as the ‘Queen of Whites’ – prized for its ability to produce top-quality wines in a wide range of climates and terroirs. Stylistically, there are two main types of chardonnay: one one hand we have the classic, oak-aged style, creamy and rich, whereas on the other hand there’s the crisp, unoaked style. The wine we are reviewing tonight is from the first category – a barrel fermented chardonnay. It means that the wine went through the malolactic fermentation – a process where the crisp, malic acid in the wine is converted into a more softer, lactic acid, thus, the wine becomes less tart and more silky. Afterwards, most of the wine (85% of it, to be precise) spent 6 month in new oak barrels, whereas the remaining wine has been transferred in stainless steel tanks. That said, without further ado let’s move on, straight to the wine tasting phase!
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

Visual
Brilliant clear yellow color with pale yellow shades towards the rim of the glass.

Olfactory
The nose is strong, filled mostly with sweet fruits and floral flavours: yellow pear, white apricot, lemon, yellow apple, ripe quince, white cherry, apple blossom, straw grass, green pear, pineapple, acacia blossom, pear candy, honey and some hints of walnuts.

Gustatory
The wine is dry, with high alcohol level, medium acidity and fine tannins. It tastes plump, crisp and oily, with a fruity nd even citrusy-floral profile. The wine has a quite oaky accent, with a smooth, round and lean mouthfeel. Overall the fine feels noble, elegant and velvety, with a harmonious and very appealing palate – this is a fine chardonnay wine indeed – delicious and a bit opulent.

Aftertaste
The wine has a medium-plus finish and an elegant, crisp and oily aftertaste.
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This is definitely a fine wine of Moldova and, with a total of 91.1 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 very fine chardonnay wine that is very close to the summit of its prime form – a wine that can resist a couple more years of bottle ageing. The wine has been aged for 6 months in oak barrels and the result is amazing – full-bodied, creamy and round, with a nuanced oiliness on the mouthfeel, which is characteristic for oaked chardonnay wines. Noble and elegant, this wine has been produced in a limited edition of only 2500 bottles, therefore it is a rarity even here, in Moldova. It’s one of those wines that can be served as an aperitif, but also works well alongside the main entrée. Our suggestion is to pair this wine with fat-rich creamy dishes, like for example some lobster tails with white butter sauce or baked salmon with garlic &lime butter sauce. Enjoy!

WineStatistics tasting results:

TIMBRUS
Oenologist Reserve | Chardonnay | Barrel Fermented | 2018

grape: | chardonnay |

region: Moldova | Stefan-Voda

overall rating: | 91.1 |

maturity: in its prime

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.