THE ICONIC ESTATE | Rhein Extra | Brut Natur | Vintage 2013
chardonnay
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Today we are going to review a very special sparkling wine, rightly considered to be one of the best crémant wines ever made in Romania – Rhein Extra Brut Natur Vintage 2013 by The Iconic Estate. This is a single-varietal chardonnay sparkling wine (this style is called ‘Blanc de Blancs‘) that is produced in accordance to the classic champenoise method, also called ‘méthode traditionelle’, with second fermentation in the bottle. With extensive ‘sur lie’ ageing (ageing on fine lees), the wine has been bottle aged for 36 months after disgorgement and it is the winemaker’s flagship cuvée. Due to long term bottle maturation, it has developed extra complexity and delivers enhanced creaminess on the palate. Also, this is a so called millésime crémant wine, which means that it was created from a single harvest, that of 2013. The Iconic Estate was formed in 2018 after Alexandrion Group has acquired Halewood Wines and Spirits Romania. Rhein Extra is the oldest romanian classic sparkling wine, making its first appearance at Pivnitele Rhein in 1892, while in 1920, Rhein Extra becomes the official supplier for the romanian royal house. That said and without further ado, let’s move on straight to the tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:
//Visual
color: pale yellow color
clarity: yellowish & greenish shades
//Olfactory
intensity: powerful & elegant
fruit profile: yellow fruits | citrus fruits | stone fruits
__yellow fruits: quince | asian pear
__citrus fruits: lemon | white grapefruit
__stone fruits: apricot | white-flesh nectarine
fruit character: overripe
//Flavor
non fruit: lactic & other
__lactic: butter | cream | yeast | baguette | crème brûlée | panna cotta | fresh bread crust
__other: raisins | dried quince | dried pear | vanilla | hay | straw grass
__wood: none
//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: high
alcohol: med(+)
tannin: low
__grip: green
balance: good
__dominant: acidity
body: round | medium-
//Taste
fruit profile: yellow fruits & stone fruits
fruit character: ripe & overripe
non fruit: lactic & sweet
finish: medium+
aftertaste: seedy-crisp
//Scoring
THE ICONIC ESTATE | Rhein Extra | Brut Natur | Vintage 2013
variety: chardonnay
country: Romania
region: Dealu Mare
rating: 92.5
//Conclusion
maturity: developing | can age for another 3-4 years
verdict: great | a must try wine
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This is definitely a great wine of Romania and with a total of 92.5 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 definitely one of the best crémant wines we’ve tasted so far – extremely refreshing, crisp and slightly seedy – a wine that is still too youthful to be enjoyed today, therefore at least 3 or 4 more years of bottle ageing should be considered. The wine feels tart, round and lean, with a nuanced lactic accent. In its current state it has overwhelming acidity and a slightly bitter mouthfeel. The wine displays an expressive fruity-lactic nose, with notes of ripe sweet fruits, baguette and crème brûlée in the foreground, supported by those noble hints of hay and vanilla in the background. Overall this is a very fine sparkling wine: crisp, seedy and creamy – a wine with a very good ageing potential and one that needs a bit more time to develop its finesse. Noroc!
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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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