NOVAK | Feteasca Neagra | 2019
feteasca neagra
We will be evaluating wines in no particular order on no particular schedule. Just stay tuned and you will never miss our reviews. If the wine is tasted more than once, the rating table will be updated so as to reflect all the new impressions and observations.
Today we are also going to review a single-varietal feteasca neagra wine from the Valul lui Traian wine region of Moldova – Feteasca Neagra 2019 by Novak Winery. Feteasca Neagra is an indigenous romanian variety that has been grown for hundreds of years on substantial plantings in the south of Moldova and eastern Muntenia and today, this is the most famous red variety in Romania. Wines made from feteasca neagra grapes are usually fruit-forward, complex and structured, wines that often are compared to merlot and cabernet franc, mostly due to their body, robust tannins and elegant textures. There is a rising demand for feteasca neagra wines on the regional as well as on the international markets and many wine experts consider this variety to be the visit card of romanian wines. This wine is part of the winemaker’s flagship ‘Black Label’ line, thus produced in a limited edition of only 2650 bottles and aged in oak barrels in order to gain more structure and complexity. 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: medium-depth garnet color
clarity: hazy garnet shades on the rim
//Olfactory
intensity: rich & oaky
fruit profile: red fruits | black fruits
__red fruits: red currant | cranberry | sour cherry
__black fruits: black cherry | black plum | blackberry
fruit character: overripe
//Flavor
non fruit: spice | oak | savory | earthy
__spice: peppercorn | cloves | nutmeg
__oak: roasted oakwood | tobacco | sun-dried oak
__savory: iron | veal
__earthy: marl | black soil dust
primary layer: fruit & oak
//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: medium+
alcohol: high
tannin: medium+
__grip: ripe
balance: good
__dominant: alcohol
body: firm | medium+
//Taste
fruit profile: red & black fruits
fruit character: overripe
non fruit: spice & oak
finish: medium
aftertaste: bitter-hot
//Scoring
NOVAK | Feteasca Neagra | 2019
variety: feteasca neagra
country: Moldova
region: Valul lui Traian
rating: 92.5
//Conclusion
maturity: in its prime | drink now or within 2-3 years
verdict: fine | highly recommended
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This is definitely a fine wine of Moldova and, with a total of 92.5 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 slightly rough feteasca neagra wine with a very appealing mouthfeel – a wine that has already stepped on the podium of its prime form, thus one that is ready to be consumed today or within the next 2 to 3 years. It feels ripe, rich and a bit angular, with a very nuanced, fruity-oaky foreground, supported by a spicy-earthy background and a subtle layer of savoriness in between. On the palate the wine delivers flat acidity, firm tannins and an overwhelming alcoholic warmth that is showing through on the mouthfeel, all of which leads to a nuanced, bitter-hot aftertaste. All in all, this is a quite appealing, new-world styled wine, that in its current state lacks harmony and finesse on the palate. We would recommend to pair it with spicy or barbequed meats in order to counter balance all those rough edges in the wine and enhance the expressivity provided by those fruity-oaky flavours. 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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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.
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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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