VINARIA DIN VALE | Onest | Merlot | #
merlot
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Today we are going to review a single-varietal merlot wine from the Valul lui Traian region – Onest Merlot by Vinaria din Vale. Merlot is usually regarded as the underdog to the highly priced cabernet sauvignon, but make no mistake here, merlot wine is first class – it is versatile, ripens earlier than cabernet sauvignon, responds well to oak ageing and can be grown in both, cool and warm climate. This particular wine is quite special as it is one of a very few local wines that is made without using exogenous added sulphites, hence the name ‘Onest‘, which in romanian means honest. 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: pale to medium
colour: ruby
clarity: hazy
hue/rim: garnet
//Olfactory
intensity: rich & vinous
fruit profile: red fruits
__red fruits: sour cherry | cranberry | red currant | red plum
fruit character: unripe
//Flavor
non fruit: vegetal | spice
__vegetal: wormwood | red bell pepper | tomato leaf | brown olive | green wood (cherry tree branch)
__spice: red pepper | white pepper
__wood: none
//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: high
alcohol: high
tannin: medium
__grip: green
body: opulent & round
balance: fair
__dominant: acidity & alcohol
complexity: simple
//Taste
fruit profile: red fruits
fruit character: unripe
non fruit: spice
finish: med(+)
aftertaste: crisp & seedy
//Scoring
VINARIA DIN VALE | Onest | Merlot | #
variety: merlot
country: Moldova
region: Valul lui Traian
rating: 89.8
//Conclusion
maturity: on the rise
verdict: fair | not bad
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This is definitely a fair wine of Moldova and, with a total of 89.8 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 nice example of a fair merlot wine that is made without the use of exogenous added sulphites – a wine that is still on the rise: round, plump and lean, with a nuanced fruity-vegetal accent – one that can be enjoyed today or in the next 9 to 18 months. The wine has a quite appealing seediness, mostly due to its slightly off-dry profile, some overwhelming acidity and a touch of alcoholic warmth on the mouthfeel. What this wine lacks today is some more character, a bit of finesse and definitely some structure on the palate. Overall this is a nicely balanced merlot wine: supple, crisp and slightly opulent, with a fine-tannic grip on the palate – a real crowd-pleaser wine.
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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.
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By training ourselves to stop, take a breath, and pay attention to the subtle elements that distinguish one wine from any other, we learn an important lesson about life – that it’s worth taking the time to slow down and appreciate things that pleases us, from a glass of wine to a great work of art. It’s a simple way to learn to appreciate the little things in life that may in some small way enhance our enjoyment of every day.
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WineStatistics is a non-profit community. We produce independent and highly detailed wine reviews.
By training ourselves to stop, take a breath, and pay attention to the subtle elements that distinguish one wine from any other, we learn an important lesson about life – that it’s worth taking the time to slow down and appreciate things that pleases us, from a glass of wine to a great work of art. It’s a simple way to learn to appreciate the little things in life that may in some small way enhance our enjoyment of every day.
In order to continue our work we need support from people like you. People who appreciate our contribution in spreading wine knowledge and raising wine awareness across the borders.
You may now support us by contributing with a monthly donation so that we can review even more wines.
WineStatistics is a non-profit community. We produce independent and highly detailed wine reviews.
By training ourselves to stop, take a breath, and pay attention to the subtle elements that distinguish one wine from any other, we learn an important lesson about life – that it’s worth taking the time to slow down and appreciate things that pleases us, from a glass of wine to a great work of art. It’s a simple way to learn to appreciate the little things in life that may in some small way enhance our enjoyment of every day.
In order to continue our work we need support from people like you. People who appreciate our contribution in spreading wine knowledge and raising wine awareness across the borders.
You may now support us by contributing with a yearly donation so that we can review even more wines.
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