DOMENIILE PRINCE MATEI | Cuvée Matei | Rezerva | 2017
merlot | cabernet sauvignon | feteasca neagra
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Today we are going to review a wine that has been released relatively recently on the market – Cuvée Matei Rezerva 2017 by Domeniile Prince Matei. This wine is a blend of three grape varieties: merlot, cabernet sauvignon and feteasca neagra, where merlot forms the main body, cabernet sauvignon adds structure and complexity while feteasca neagra enhances the flavour profile with black fruit flavours and brings some very subtle, terrior hints. Wine blending is part science and part art, which takes years to master, as the winemakers has to use a combination of technical skills, laboratory analysis and wine tasting in order to achieve the desired results. This particular wine is made out of grapes that are sourced from the famous Dealu Mare region and it has been aged for at least 12 months in french oak barrels and another 12 months in the bottle before being released on the market. But that’s the theory part, while we prefer the practical side. 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: deep & opaque ruby
clarity: hazy ruby shades
//Olfactory
intensity: rich & clean
fruit profile: red fruits | black fruits
__red fruits: overripe sour cherry | overripe red plum
__black fruits: black plum | black cherry | blackcurrant | blackberry | aronia berry
fruit character: ripe & overripe
//Flavor
non fruit: spice | oak | earthy
__spice: black pepper | nutmeg | cloves | tonka seeds
__oak: black tea | roasted oakwood | tobacco | mocha | hints of vanilla
__earthy: black soil dust | compost | gravel
primary layer: fruit | oak | savory | earthy | herbaceous
//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: high
alcohol: high
tannin: medium+
__grip: ripe
balance: good
__dominant: alcohol | acidity
body: firm & bold | full bodied
//Taste
fruit profile: black fruits
fruit character: ripe
non fruit: spice & oak
finish: medium+
aftertaste: crisp & seedy
//Scoring
DOMENIILE PRINCE MATEI | Cuvée Matei | Rezerva | 2017
variety: merlot | cabernet sauvignon | feteasca neagra
country: Romania | Muntenia
region: Dealu Mare
rating: 92.8
//Conclusion
maturity: developing | age for 3-4 years
verdict: fine | highly recommended
//Prediction
RP rating: 90
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This is definitely a fine wine of Romania and, with a total of 92.8 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 definitely a very fine wine blend: firm, bold and quite potent – a wine that requires another 3 or 4 years of bottle ageing in order to further develop and round up a bit, before it will reach the peak of its form. The wine feels rich and ripe, with an expressive fruit-forward profile and a well structured body. It has elevated acidity, ripe and grippy tannins and a touch of alcoholic warmth showing through on the mouthfeel. On the nose the wine delivers ripe and overripe black fruits in the foreground, nicely supported by some oaky-spiciness in the background, complemented by a layer of earthiness in between. This is a wine that is all about power and complexity – slightly rough at the moment, with a fruity-oaky nose, an extracted mouthfeel and a seedy-crisp finale. What this wine lacks today is some elegance and finesse on the palate, traits that will surely come with time spent in the bottle. Our suggestion would be to pair it with grilled or barbequed meats, like for example grilled veal chops or a T-Bone steak. 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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