MAXIMARC | Castel Sofia | Mustoasa de Maderat | 2018
mustoasa de maderat
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The other wine that we are going to review today is one that we were eager to taste for a very long time, as this is not only a very intriguing wine from Romania, but also a wine that is unique in its own way – Castel Sofia Mustoasa de Maderat 2018 by MaxiMarc Winery. Made only from the mustoasa de maderat grape variety, that originated in the Maderat village and cultivated mostly in the Minis-Maderat region of Transylvania, this wine was produced using the appasimento technique, which means that the grapes were dried or dehydrated before fermentation. In the case of this particular wine, the grapes were harvested very late into the season, after the first winter frost hit the vineyards and left out to dry for at least 1 months in special crates. After the fermentation, the wine has been aged for 10 months in big, 1000-liters oak barrels and then bottled unfiltered in order to preserve the varietal characteristics of the mustoasa de maderat grape variety. Needless to mention that it was produced in a limited edition of only 4000 bottles. There are several controversies over the the mustoasa de maderat origins, as in some sources it is said that mustoasa de maderat is the exactly same variety as the hungarian lampor feher or that it originates from that grape variety. 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: very deep yellow color
clarity: bright golden hues at the rim of the glass
//Olfactory
intensity: pronounced & honeyed
fruit profile: sweet fruits | dried fruits | stone fruits
__sweet fruits: quince | yellow pear | yellow apple
__dried fruits: dried quince | dried pear | dried apple | dried peach | dried apricot | dried pineapple
__stone fruits: peach | nectarine | apricot
fruit character: overripe & jammy
//Flavor
non fruit: herbaceous & sweet
__herbaceous: hay | straw grass | meadow | honeysuckle | anise
__sweet: honey | raisins | quince jam | pineapple jam | lemon jam | cloves
primary layer: fruity-herbaceous
//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: high
alcohol: high
tannin: medium-
__grip: ripe
balance: good
__dominant: alcohol
body: voluptuous | full body
//Taste
fruit profile: sweet fruits & dried fruits
fruit character: dried & jammy
non fruit: herbaceous & sweet
finish: medium+
aftertaste: smooth & appealing
//Scoring
MAXIMARC | Castel Sofia | Mustoasa de Maderat | 2018
variety: mustoasa de maderat
country: Romania | Transilvania
region: Minis | Maderat
rating: 93.7
//Conclusion
maturity: past its prime | drink now or within the next 2 years
verdict: great | a legendary wine
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This is definitely a great wine of Romania 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 an outstanding mustoasa de maderat wine: supple, voluptuous and complex, with a nuanced honeyed & jammy profile on the nose and a well structured palate. It feels past its prime form, therefore we would recommend to drink it sooner rather than later, preferably today or within the next 2 years. On the nose the wine brings a mixture of dried & jammy fruits in the foreground, followed by a very appealing herbaceous background and some very subtle oaky hints on between. On the palate the wine delivers mouth-watering acidity, ripe tannins and quite a touch of alcoholic warmth that is showing through on the mouthfeel, all of which evolve into an appealingly crisp aftertaste. All in all, this is a rich and expressive mustoasa de maderat wine that doesn’t lack neither structure nor complexity on the palate. We believe that this is one of the best white wine we’ve tasted so far.
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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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