FÁUTOR | Tempranillo | 2018
tempranillo

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Today we are going to review a single-varietal tempranillo wine but not one from Spain as you might have thought – this one here is made in Moldova – Tempranillo 2018 by Fáutor Winery. Tempranillo is a spanish variety that for a long time was ignored by the outside world as a slightly rustic grape of strictly local appeal, as its flavour profile is essentially savoury rather than fruity. Fast forward to nowadays, tempranillo is increasingly recognised as an important grape variety that can result in firm, bold and age-worthy wines. This is one of the reasons why tempranillo can withstand long term ageing, as for example this particular wine has been aged for only 6 months in oak barrels in order to presence its pure, varietal characteristics and is produced in a limited edition of only 6480 bottles. 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 ruby
clarity: hazy ruby shades

//Olfactory
intensity: rich & clean
fruit profile: black fruits
__black fruits: black cherry | black plum | blackcurrant
fruit character: ripe & overripe

//Flavor
non fruit: spice | oak | other
__spice: black pepper | nutmeg | cloves | allspice
__oak: roasted oakwood | liquorice | tobacco | sweet vanilla & hints of charred wood
__other: dried black cherry | violets & hints of leather
__wood: new / heavy toasted

//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: med(+)
alcohol: high
tannin: high
__grip: green
balance: fair
__dominant: acidity
body: rough | full body

//Taste
fruit profile: black fruits
fruit character: ripe & underripe
non fruit: spice & oak
finish: medium+
aftertaste: bitter-crisp

//Scoring
FÁUTOR | Tempranillo | 2018
variety: tempranillo
country: Moldova
region: Valul lui Traian
rating: 91.3

//Conclusion
maturity: developing | age for 2-3 years
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 a very nice tempranillo wine, yet one that is still too young to be enjoyed today, as its acidity and at a certain degree tannins are excessive at the moment. We would strongly recommend to keep it at least two or three more years in the bottle, so that the wine gets enough time to round up and smoothen its rough edges. In its current state, the wine tastes angular, seedy and slightly austere, with a nuanced, fruit-forward (dare we say, new-world) oaky profile and an expressive tannic grip on the palate. It might lack a bit of elegance and finesse, nevertheless, the wine feels nicely balanced, bold and extracted. What makes this wine stand apart from its peers, is that it fusions quite well those ripe, black fruit flavours with the noble, charred-woody notes, which overall makes it the perfect pairing partner for barbecued or grilled meats. And remember, this one comes from Moldova, not the world-famous Rioja region – it’s a rarity, a truly unique experience. Grab a glass and 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.