CHATEAU KAMNIK | Montepulciano | 2017
montepulciano | vranac
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Today we are going to review a very intriguing and in a way even unique wine from North Macedonia – Montepulciano 2017 by Chateau Kamnik. Montepulciano is a late-ripening, italian grape variety that requires much sunlight, therefore it will ripen only on the hottest sites in warm regions. Due to its slow physiological ripening, the grapes accumulate lots of anthocyanins (pigment) and usually produce good-value, full-bodied and juicy red wines, especially in the Abruzzo wine region. This particular wine is technically a blend (95% montepulciano and 5% vranac), made of grapes that were sourced from the Skopje Wine District vineyards, that are grown on cinemonic fertile soils (that are very rich in minerals) with southern exposure in the River Vardar Valley, and it has been aged in large oak casks in order to preserve the varietal characteristics of the grapes, the same way montepulciano is vinified in Italy. 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: deep & opaque ruby color
clarity: bright & pale garnet hues
//Olfactory
intensity: powerful & clean
fruit profile: black fruits
__black fruits: blackberry | black plum | black cherry | dried black cherry | dried black plum | aronia berry
fruit character: overripe & dried
//Flavor
non fruit: spice | oak | earthy | savory | other
__spice: black pepper | tonka seeds | cloves
__oak: sun-dried oakwood | mocha | roasted oakwood | oaktree bark
__earthy: black soil dust | compost | turf | barn
__savory: iron & veal
__other: black tea | violets
primary layer: fruit & oak
//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: high
alcohol: medium+
tannin: medium+
__grip: ripe
balance: good
__dominant: alcohol
body: round & voluptuous | medium+
//Taste
fruit profile: black fruits
fruit character: overripe & dried
non fruit: spice & oak
finish: medium+
aftertaste: seedy & crisp
//Scoring
CHATEAU KAMNIK | Montepulciano | 2017
variety: montepulciano | vranac
country: North Macedonia
region: Skopje Wine District
rating: 93.7
//Conclusion
maturity: developing | can age for 3 or 4 years
verdict: great | a must try wine
//Prediction
RP rating: 90
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This is definitely a great wine of Macedonia and, with a total of 93.7 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: firm and voluptuous – a wine that is very close to the summit of its prime form, thus a wine that has the potential to age for another 3 or 4 years in the bottle. The wine feels ripe, round and noble, with very nice acidity, fine-grained tannins and just a touch of alcoholic warmth on the mouthfeel. On the nose the wine delivers overripe and dehydrated black fruits, mixed with some very nuanced savory-earthy notes in the foreground, supported by a very intense and expressive, spicy-oaky background. All in all, the wine feels complex, well structured and harmonious on the palate, with a very appealing and noble, seedy-crisp aftertaste. What can we say more – this is a great great wine indeed, one of the best we have tasted so far. Cheers!
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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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