EQUINOX | Rara Neagra | 2019
rara neagra
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Today we are going to review a single-varietal rara neagra wine from the Stefan Voda wine region of Moldova – Rara Neagra 2019 by Equinox. Rara Neagra, which is also known as babeasca neagra in Romania, is an indigenous grape variety that is famous for its ability to highlight different aspects of terroir. The wines made from rara neagra are highly romantic, light in body, with velvety tannins and high natural acidity. Some wine experts and connoisseurs go as far as to even compare them to those wines that are made from pinot noir grapes, in terms of structure and finesse. The wine comes from the famous Purcari region in Stefan Voda IGP (more precisely from the Luchineasa vineyard near the Olanesti village) and it has been vinified using ecologic viticulture techniques, with no added sulfites. It has been aged for 24 months in small (225-liters) oak barriques in order to gain more structure and complexity and produced in a very limited edition of 900 bottles as only 3 barrels of this wine has been made. But enough theory, 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: pale garnet color
clarity: hazy garnet shades
//Olfactory
intensity: rich & oaky
fruit profile: red fruits
__red fruits: sour cherry | cranberry | red plum | wolfberry | goji berry | canned sour cherry
fruit character: overripe
//Flavor
non fruit: spice | oak | earth
__spice: red pepper | rooibos tea
__oak: sun-dried oak | roasted oakwood | cherry tree wood
__earthy: black soil dust | marl | clay
primary layer: fruit & oak
//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: high
alcohol: high
tannin: medium+
__grip: green
balance: fair
__dominant: alcohol
body: rough | medium+
//Taste
fruit profile: red fruits
fruit character: overripe
non fruit: spice & oak
finish: medium
aftertaste: seedy-rough
//Scoring
EQUINOX | Rara Neagra | 2019
variety: rara neagra
country: Moldova
region: Stefan Voda
rating: 90.2
//Conclusion
maturity: developing | drink now or within 1 year
verdict: nice | quite enjoyable
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This is definitely a nice wine of Moldova and, with a total of 90.2 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 quite rough, astringent and angular rara neagra wine, with a nuanced fruity-oaky profile and a hot mouthfeel. The wine is still in its development phase, therefore we would recommend to drink it today or within the year, as we firmly believe that it is always better to drink a wine a year too soon than a day too late. On the nose the wine delivers a mixture of overripe red fruits & nuanced oaky notes in the foreground, followed by a spicy background and a very subtle earthy layer in between the two. On the palate the wine showcases overwhelming acidity, rough and slightly green tannins and quite a touch of alcoholic warmth that is showing through on the mouthfeel. All in all, this is a sharp, austere and unbalanced wine, that in its current state lacks harmony and any form of finesse on the palate. Judging by the wine’s structure, our recommendation is to pair it with spiced or grilled meats, like for example a peppercorn-crusted tomahawk steak or a rosemary-garlic flank steak. 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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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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