VALEA ASCUNSA | Feteasca Alba | 2020
feteasca alba
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Today we are going to review a single-varietal feteasca alba wine that comes from the relatively cool, Lechinta wine growing area in Transilvania – Feteasca Alba 2020 by Valea Ascunsa. 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 white wines. Some say that feteasca alba is the only grape variety that can display notes of vine blossom in its aroma profile. 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: pale straw-white color
clarity: clear ivory hues on the rim
//Olfactory
intensity: pronounced & expressive
fruit profile: sweet fruits | citrus fruits | stone fruits
__sweet fruits: asian pear | white apple
__citrus fruits: lemon | lime
__stone fruits: white peach | nectarine
fruit character: ripe & overripe
//Flavor
non fruit: floral | sweet | other
__floral: acacia blossom | linden flower
__sweet: pear drop | banana | mint candy
__other: mint | pine buds | christmas tree sap
primary layer: fruit
//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: high
alcohol: medium+
tannin: none
__grip: smooth
balance: fair
__dominant: acidity
body: lean | medium
//Taste
fruit profile: sweet fruits & citrus
fruit character: ripe
non fruit: floral & sweet
finish: medium
aftertaste: crisp
//Scoring
VALEA ASCUNSA | Feteasca Alba | 2020
variety: feteasca alba
country: Romania | Transilvania
region: Lechinta | Teaca
rating: 91.7
//Conclusion
maturity: in its prime | drink now
verdict: fine | highly recommended
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This is definitely a fine wine of Romania and with a total of 91.7 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 a quite lean and supple feteasca alba wine that feels crisp, soft and a bit tart, with a nuanced a very expressive nose and a round mouthfeel. The wine is right there, at the peak of its prime form, thus we would recommend to drink it today or within a year, in order to enjoy it at its finest, 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 brings an explosion of ripe and overripe sweet fruits and citrus in the foreground, followed by some pronounced, floral-candy notes in the background. On the palate the wine delivers overwhelming acidity and a touch of alcoholic warmth, that is showing through on the mouthfeel, which evolves into an appealingly crispy aftertaste. All in all, this a real crowd-pleaser: a fresh and mesmerizing feteasca alba wine, that in its current state lacks some finesse and just a bit of harmony on the palate. We believe it will pair lovely with a pear and lemon summer salad, or some tagliolini with white truffles and butter sauce. 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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