VINARIA NOBILA | Cabernet Franc | 2017
cabernet franc

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Today we are going to review a single-varietal cabernet franc wine from the famous Stefan-Voda region – Cabernet Franc 2017 by Vinaria Nobila. The ‘other cabernet’ grape, cabernet franc is the parent grape for the two famous international varieties: cabernet sauvignon and merlot. It is less intense and softer than cabernet sauvignon and it ripens much earlier, while it is also much more resistant to winter cold and frost than merlot. One thing that makes cabernet franc unique is that it can’t hide its nature – it has always been a bit more peppery, more savory and leaner than its pedigree children, due to the higher levels of pyrazines inherited by the variety. This particular wine has been aged for at least 16 months in oak nd is one of the few single varietal cabernet franc wines on the market. That said, 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
clarity: clear
concentration: deep
colour: ruby
hue/rim: crimson

//Sight
stain: medium
viscosity: medium
sediment: none

//Olfactory
outset: clean
intensity: powerful
fruit profile: black fruits
__black fruits: black cherry | black plum | blackcurrant | blackberry | black raspberry
fruit character: ripe | dried

//Flavor
non fruit: spice | oak
__spice: black pepper | nutmeg
__oak: vanilla | cinnamon | sweet tobacco | roasted oakwood | charred wood
__wood: new / roasted | charred]
aroma: primary | secondary

//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: med(+)
alcohol: high
tannin: med(+)
__grip: rough
texture: grippy
body: full
balance: fair
__dominant: acidity | alcohol | tannin
complexity: moderate

//Taste
fruit profile: black fruits
fruit character: ripe | dried
non fruit: spice | oak
finish: med(+)
aftertaste: seedy

//Scoring
VINARIA NOBILA | Cabernet Franc | 2017
variety: cabernet franc
climate: moderate
country: Moldova
region: Stefan-Voda
rating: 92.1

//Conclusion
maturity: on the rise
verdict: great
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This is definitely a great wine of Moldova and, with a total of 92.1 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.

Verdict: this is definitely one of the finest wines we’ve tasted so far – a wine that needs just a bit more time in the bottle (2 to 3 years should suffice) before it reaches its prime form. It tastes firm, tannic and structured, with an extracted fruit-forward profile and a touch of alcoholic marth on the mouthfeel. The wine feels muscular and grippy, with a full body and a bitter-seedy, a bit rough, palate. All that, combined with pronounced acidity, leads to a slightly astringent finale, where the primary fruit is overwhelmed by the oak-infused flavours. What this wine lacks today is identity and finesse, as although this is a great wine, there’s little of cabernet franc typicity in it – no hints of the much expected capsicum notes. We would suggest to pair this wine with peppery or barbequed meats, like for example a butter-basted rib eye steak with thyme and garlic. Cheers.

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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.