TIMBRUS | De Autor | Blend #3 | 2017
merlot | feteasca neagra | saperavi | malbec

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Today we are going to review a wine blend from the Stefan Voda wine region – De Autor Blend #3 2017 by Timbrus. This wine is a blend of merlot, feteasca neagra, saperavi and malbec and it has been aged for 18 months in french oak barrels and another 6 months in the bottle. The wine is created by oenologist Manuel Ortiz and is produced in a limited edition of only 5200 bottles. Wine blending is part science and part art, as it takes years to master, thus the winemakers has to use a combination of technical skills, laboratory analysis and of course lots of tasting. But enough theory, 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: medium
colour: ruby
clarity: cloudy
hue/rim: purple

//Olfactory
intensity: rich
fruit profile: red fruits | black fruits
__red fruits: sour cherry
__black fruits: blackcurrant | black plum | black cherry | blackberry
fruit character: overripe | dried

//Flavor
non fruit: spice | oak | sweet | earth
__spice: red pepper | cloves | nutmeg | rosemary
__oak: vanilla | tobacco | roasted oakwood | smoke
__sweet: dried plum | dried black cherry | menthol
__earth: black soil dust | slate
__wood: new / medium
aroma: primary | secondary

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

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

//Scoring
TIMBRUS | De Autor | Blend #3 | 2017
variety: merlot | feteasca neagra | saperavi | malbec
country: Moldova
region: Stefan Voda
rating: 91.3

//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 91.3 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 extracted and expressive wine blend that is still on the rise – fruit-forward, oaky and tart, with overwhelming acidity – a wine that should age for another 2 to 3 years in the bottle before it will come close to its prime form. It feels crisp, seedy and noble, with a well structured, medium body and moderate complexity on the palate. Overall it tastes supple and rich, with a pronounced spiciness, delivering black and red fruit flavours that are nicely complemented by oak-infused hints of roasted oakwood and tobacco. What this wine definitely lacks today is some character and individuality, as the acidity is dominates the mouthfeel, which leads to a slightly tart finale.
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