CRAMA FERDI | Cuvée Francisc | 2018
cabernet franc | merlot
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Today we are also going to review a very rare wine blend from the Dealu Mare region in Muntenia – Cuvée Francisc 2018 by Crama Ferdi. This is a classic Bordeaux blend – a wine that is rightly considered amongst the best in Romania, vinified in a style similar to the wines that are made in Maremma Toscana and named after the main variety in the blend (Francisc as of cabernet franc). This particular wine is a blend of cabernet franc (66%) and merlot (34%), signed by Fernando Marius Mihailescu, where cabernet franc forms the main body and structure, whereas merlot adds up-front richness and rounds up the final blend, delivering some much desired smoothness on the finish. Francisc is a classic example of modern microvinification, with 18 months of oak ageing, this wine is produced in a very limited edition of only 880 bottles, thus it is a rarity even here in Romania. But enough theory, that said and 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
colour: medium & noble ruby color
clarity: slightly hazy ruby shades
//Olfactory
intensity: powerful & oaky
fruit profile: black fruits
__black fruits: black cherry | black plum | blackberry | blackcurrant | wild black cherry
fruit character: ripe
//Flavor
non fruit: spice | oak | savory | earthy
__spice: black pepper | nutmeg | cloves
__oak: roasted oakwood | tobacco | liquorice | oak tree bark
__savory: hints of leather & horse saddle
__earthy: black soil soil dust | crushed gravel | wet tarmac | granite
__wood: new / medium+ roast
//Palate
sweetness: bone dry
acidity: high
alcohol: high
tannin: high
__grip: ripe
balance: good
__dominant: alcohol
body: bold | full bodied
//Taste
fruit profile: black fruits
fruit character: overripe
non fruit: spice & oak
finish: medium+
aftertaste: bitter-seedy
//Scoring
CRAMA FERDI | Cuvée Francisc | 2018
variety: cabernet franc | merlot
country: Romania
region: Dealu Mare
rating: 94.0
//Conclusion
maturity: developing | age for at least 4-5 years
verdict: great | a must try
//Prediction
RP rating: 91
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This is definitely a great wine of Romania and, with a total of 94.0 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 great wine indeed, one that is still developing, thus one that definitely requires at least 4 or 5 more years of bottle ageing before it will come close to its prime form. It tastes rich, ripe and extracted, with a firm-tannic grip on the mouthfeel and a bitter-seedy finale. This is a very bold wine with a nuanced fruity-oaky accent and a very expressive nose and palate – a wine that feels as complex as a genuine super tuscan, amazingly well structured and extremely appealing. It has mouth-watering acidity and a touch of alcoholic warmth on the mouthfeel, which makes the wine taste voluptuous and finely balanced. The most amazing treat of this wine is it’s expressiveness, starting with a rich, fruit-forward foreground that is supported by some very pronounced oak-derived notes in the background, with a layer of elegant earthy flavours in between the two. This is a wine with a huge ageing potential and promises of future elegance – a wine that carries the footprint of Dealu Mare terroir and one that is mixing power with finesse. 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.
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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.
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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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