CRAMA BAUER | J.O.H.A.N.N.A. | MMXVI | 2016
feteasca regala
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Today we are going to review a very special and quite unique sparkling wine that is rightly considered to be one of the best crémant wines of Romania – J.O.H.A.N.N.A. MMXVI 2016 by Crama Bauer. Made out of feteasca regala grapes that were sourced from 40-years old vines planted in the Dragasani region (eastern Oltenia) and produced using the authentic méthode traditionelle technique, the same way the famous french champagne is made. After the second fermentation in the bottle, the wine spent a staggering 48 months on fine lees (sur lie ageing) and is produced in avery limited edition of only 1500 bottles. Due to long term second fermentation in the bottle (including the sur lie ageing) and further bottle maturation, the wine developed extra complexity and delivers enhanced creaminess on the palate. This is also a so-called millésime sparkling wine, which means that it was created from a single harvest, that of 2016 and is dedicated to Johanna Braun, the grand aunt of oenologist Oliver Bauer. 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 straw-white color
clarity: clear peach hues
//Olfactory
intensity: rich & yeasty
fruit profile: sweet fruits | citrus fruits | stone fruits
__sweet fruits: yellow apple | yellow pear | quince | asian pear
__citrus fruits: lemon | pomelo | white grapefruit
__stone fruits: apricot | yellow mirabelle
fruit character: ripe & overripe
//Flavor
non fruit: herbal | yeast
__herbal: straw grass | hay
__yeast: bread crust | baguette | bread crumbs | panna cotta | crème brûlée | yeast | butter
primary layer: yeasty/lactic
//Palate
sweetness: bone dry
acidity: high
alcohol: medium+
tannin: low
__grip: ripe
balance: good
__dominant: acidity
body: round & firm | medium+
//Taste
fruit profile: sweet fruits & stone fruits
fruit character: ripe & overripe
non fruit: lactic & yeasty
finish: medium+
aftertaste: crisp & appealing
//Scoring
CRAMA BAUER | J.O.H.A.N.N.A. | MMXVI | 2016
variety: feteasca regala
country: Romania | Oltenia
region: Dragasani
rating: 94.0
//Conclusion
maturity: developing | drink now or 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 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 definitely one of the best sparkling wines we’ve tasted so far: refreshingly crisp, very well structured and extremely appealing – a wine that is still developing into the bottle, thus we would recommend for another 3 or 4 years of bottle ageing. The wine feels round but firm on the palate, with mouth-watering acidity and just a touch of alcoholic warmth showing through on the mouthfeel. On the nose it delivers ripe and overripe sweet and stone fruits in the foreground, with a very nuanced, yeasty-lactic background and a subtle citrusy-herbal layer in between the two. This is a very complex and delicate sparkling wine that is reminiscent of a mature blanc de blancs Champagne or a fully developed Sekt wine.
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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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