NOVAK | #2 Red Blend | 2017
saperavi | merlot | cabernet sauvignon | feteasca neagra

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Today we are going to review a wine blend from the Valul lui Traian wine region – #2 Red Blend 2017 by Novak Winery. This wine is a blend of 50% saperavi, 25% merlot, 20% cabernet sauvignon and 5% feteasca neagra and it has been aged for 6 months in french oak barriques. The wine is also part of the winemaker’s flagship Black Label line and is produced in a limited edition, as only 5900 bottles have been made. Wine blending is part science and part art, as it takes several years (if not a lifetime) to master it and usually the winemakers use a combination of technical analysis and tasting. 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: hazy
hue/rim: purple

//Olfactory
intensity: rich
fruit profile: black fruits | blue fruits
__black fruits: black cherry | black plum | blackcurrant | blackberry
__blue fruits: blue plum | blueberry
fruit character: ripe | overripe

//Flavor
non fruit: spice | oak | animal
__spice: red pepper | black pepper | nutmeg | paprika
__oak: vanilla | cinnamon | roasted oakwood
__animal: leather | veal | capocollo | horse saddle | hints of barnyard
__wood: new / medium
aroma: primary | secondary

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

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

//Scoring
NOVAK | #2 Red Blend | 2017
variety: saperavi | merlot | cabernet sauvignon | feteasca neagra
country: Moldova
region: Valul lui Traian
rating: 91.2

//Conclusion
maturity: on the rise
verdict: fine | highly recommended
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This is definitely a fine wine of Moldova and, with a total of 91.2 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 quite firm and seedy wine blend that is still on the rise – grippy, tart and ripe, with a pronounced fruity-savory profile – a wine that can age for a couple more years in the bottle before it reaches its prime form. What this wine lacks today is a bit elegance and finesse on the palate, as the acidity is overwhelming and leads to a slightly bitter and crisp finale. Overall it feels extracted and rich, with a delicate rustic accent, delivering black and blue fruit flavours that are nicely complemented by oak-infused hints of roasted oakwood and french vanilla – a fine wine indeed. Enjoy!
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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.