DAGON ESTATE | Clearstone | Feteasca Alba Reserve | 2019
feteasca alba
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Today we are going to review a wine that conquered our hearts from the first sip – a single-varietal feteasca alba wine from the famous Dealu Mare region in Muntenia – Clearstone Feteasca Alba Reserve 2019 by Dagon Estate. Feteasca Alba is an old, indigenous romanian variety, that dates back for almost two thousand years – a variety that is little known outside of Romania and Moldova. Feteasca Alba wines stand out from the crowd mostly due to their delicate balance and elegance on the palate. There is a rising demand for feteasca alba wines both, on the local market as well as on the international markets and many experts name this variety as one of the visit cards of romanian wines. This particular wine is made of grapes harvested from 40 years-old-vines, planted on a very small area of only 0.9 ha on stony-calcareous-rich soils, on the hillsides near Fintesti in Dealu Mare. The wine has been fermented on wild yeasts in new, romanian oak barrels and then aged in Burgundy-style oak barriques at second use. But enough theory, that said and without further ado, let’s move on straight to our tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:
//Visual
color: deep yellow color
clarity: clear straw-yellow hues
//Olfactory
intensity: powerful & mature
fruit profile: yellow fruits | stone fruits
__yellow fruits: yellow apple | quince | yellow pear | dried apple | dried quince | dried pear
__stone fruits: apricot | white plum
fruit character: overripe & dried
//Flavor
non fruit: herbal | oak | other
__herbal: hay | straw grass | wheat | pear leaf | ginger | hints of dried herbs
__oak: sun-dried oakwood | vanilla
__other: hazelnut | cashew | almond
primary layer: fruit & herbs
//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: medium+
alcohol: high
tannin: medium
__grip: ripe
balance: good
__dominant: alcohol
body: round | medium+
//Taste
fruit profile: yellow fruits
fruit character: overripe & dried
non fruit: oak & herbs
finish: long
aftertaste: seedy-hot
//Scoring
DAGON ESTATE | Clearstone | Feteasca Alba Reserve | 2019
variety: feteasca alba
country: Romania | Muntenia
region: Dealu Mare | Fintesti
rating: 93.2
//Conclusion
maturity: developing | drink now or can age for 2-3 years
verdict: great | a must try wine
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This is definitely a great wine of Romania and with a total of 93.2 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 complex and well structured feteasca alba wine, with a firm but round palate. The wine is still developing, therefore we would recommend to give it another 2 to 3 more years of bottle ageing, in order to allow it to reach its full potential. On the nose the wine brings overripe and dried yellow fruits in the foreground, followed by a noble oaky background and nuanced hints of herbs and slight oxidative notes in between. On the palate the wine delivers crisp acidity, pronounced phenolic seediness and an overwhelming touch of alcoholic warmth showing through on the mouthfeel. What this wine lacks today is some harmony and finesse on the palate, as it feels a bit rough and hot, especially towards the end of the palate. Our recommendation is to pair it with creamy pasta dishes, like for example tagliolini with white truffles and butter sauce. 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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