RECAS | Cuvee Überland | 2009
merlot | cabernet sauvignon

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Today we are going to review a wine blend that is rightly considered to be a living legend – Cuvee Überland 2009 by Cramele Recaș. Überland is the name of the hillside that is the source of the grapes, yet it is the production technique that makes this wine unique, because it combines both, Bordeaux and Amarone techniques, where grapes are harvested once maximum ripeness is reached, and then, instead of being processed, the grapes are left on the vines or placed on straw matts to further dehydrate, thus increasing sugar concentration. The wine itself is a blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot grape varieties, where cabernet sauvignon forms the main body and structure, while merlot brings up-front richness and red fruits flavors, both aged for 12 months in oak barrels in order to gain elegance and finesse. 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
concentration: deep
colour: ruby
clarity: misty
hue/rim: garnet

//Olfactory
intensity: powerful
fruit profile: red fruits | black fruits
__red fruits: sour cherry | red currant | cranberry | cherry seeds
__black fruits: black cherry | black plum | blackcurrant
fruit character: overripe

//Flavor
non fruit: spice | oak | animal
__spice: red pepper
__oak: tobacco
__animal: leather
__wood: old /  medium
aroma: primary | secondary

//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: med(+)
alcohol: med(+)
tannin: med(+)
__grip: firm
body: medium
balance: good
__dominant: acidity
complexity: moderate

//Taste
fruit profile: red fruits | black fruits
fruit character: overripe
non fruit: spice | oak
finish: med(+)
aftertaste: appealing

//Scoring
RECAS | Cuvee Überland | 2009
variety: merlot | cabernet sauvignon
country: Romania
region: Banat
rating: 91.4

//Conclusion
maturity: on the decline
verdict: fine
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This is definitely a fine wine of Romania and, with a total of 91.4 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 a fine blend that is definitely over its prime form – crisp, tannic and fruity – a wine that is still very appealing and one that can resist another year or two of bottle-ageing. It tastes supple and round, with a fine-tannic grip on the plate and a slightly lean mouthfeel. The wine feels tart and noble, with a medium body and medium complexity – it is still quite fruity for its age, yet the richness of the fruit is long gone, the fruit is now mostly on the overripe side of the ripeness spectrum. Although the wine still holds hints of past greatness, it is definitely on the decline, therefore there’s no reason for further geing – drink it now and enjoy it while it lasts.

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