DOMENIILE PRINCE MATEI | Matei | Reserva | 2017
merlot | cabernet sauvignon | feteasca neagra
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Tonight we are going to review a wine that has been released relatively recently on the market – Matei Reserva 2017 by Domeniile Prince Matei. This wine is a blend of 45% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 25% feteasca neagra, where merlot forms the wine’s main body, cabernet sauvignon adds structure and complexity to the blend while feteasca neagra enhances the flavour profile with black fruit flavours and brings some very subtle, terrior hints. The grapes for this wine were sourced from the Zoresti vineyards (namely: Dealul Zorilor, Teganeanu and Dumbala) in the famous Dealu Mare region and the wine itself has been aged in new, french oak barrels and produced in a limited edition of only 1700 bottles, thus it is a rarity even Romania. 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 & noble ruby color
clarity: hazy garnet shades on the rim
//Olfactory
intensity: rich & oaky
fruit profile: black fruits
__black fruits: black cherry | black plum | blackberry | brumble
fruit character: ripe & overripe
//Flavor
non fruit: spice | oak | earthy | other
__spice: sweet spice | allspice | black pepper | nutmeg | cloves | anise
__oak: roasted oakwood | coconut | vanilla | cinnamon | liquorice | sweet tobacco | mocha
__earthy: granite | quartz
__other: chocolate & hints of varnish
primary layer: fruit & oak
//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: high
alcohol: high
tannin: high
__grip: ripe
balance: good
__dominant: acidity
body: round & firm | full body
//Taste
fruit profile: black fruits
fruit character: ripe & overripe
non fruit: spice & oak
finish: medium+
aftertaste: seedy-crisp
//Scoring
DOMENIILE PRINCE MATEI | Matei | Reserva | 2017
variety: merlot | cabernet sauvignon | feteasca neagra
country: Romania | Muntenia
region: Dealu Mare | Zoresti
rating: 93.9
//Conclusion
maturity: developing | age for 3 to 5 more years
verdict: great | a must try wine
//Prediction
RP rating: 91
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This is definitely a great wine of Romania and, with a total of 93.9 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 fine wine blend: round but firm, bold and quite potent – a wine that requires 3 to 5 more years of bottle ageing in order to further develop in the bottle. The wine feels voluptuous and plump, with an expressive, fruit-forward profile and a nuanced, fruity-oaky accent. On the palate it delivers exuberant acidity, ripe tannins and a touch of alcoholic warmth showing through on the mouthfeel. On the nose the wine brings ripe and overripe black fruits mixed with some oak in the foreground, supported by a very appealing, spicy background and complemented by a layer of earthiness in between. This is a wine that is all about power and complexity, made in a clear-cut, new-world style, with a fruity-oaky accent on the nose, a rich and flamboyant 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, as this is a wine with a great ageing potential. Our suggestion would be to pair it with grilled or barbequed meats, like for example some grilled veal chops or an old-fashioned T-Bone steak. 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.
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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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