PURCARI | Negru de Purcari | Vintage | 2019
cabernet sauvignon | saperavi | rara neagra

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Today we are are going to review a wine, that hardly requires any introduction. It comes from the famous Stefan Voda region in the south-est of Moldova, and has raised to a legendary status over the years – it is a wine that is still considered a reference points for many consumers and winemakers – Negru de Purcari Vintage 2019 by Purcari. This wine is a blend of three grape varieties: cabernet sauvignon (55%), saperavi (40%) and rara neagra (5%), where cabernet sauvignon forms the wine’s main body and structure, saperavi adds color depth and more black fruit flavors, while rara neagra forms a more refined mid-palate, forming a leaner and a more dynamic finish. All the grapes were harvested and selected by hand, and in order to soften the tannins and add extra complexity to the final blend, the wine has been aged for 18 months in new, french oak barriques. But enough with all that 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: deep & opaque ruby color
clarity: hazy indigo shades on the rim

//Olfactory
intensity: pronounced & leathery
fruit profile: black fruits
__black fruits: black cherry | black plum | blackberry
fruit character: ripe & overripe

//Flavor
non fruit: spice | oak | earth | savory | other
__spice: peppercorn | nutmeg | cloves
__oak: toasted oakwood | sun-dried oak | black tea | tobacco | hints of liquorice
__earth: clay | loam | pencil lead 
__savory: new leather | black olive | hints of iron
__other: hints of thyme and rosemary
primary layer: fruit & oak

//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: medium+
alcohol: medium+
tannin: medium+
__grip: seedy
balance: good
__dominant: acidity
body: round | medium+

//Taste
fruit profile: black fruits
fruit character: ripe & overripe
non fruit: spice | oak | earth
finish: medium+
aftertaste: appealingly seedy

//Scoring
PURCARI | Negru de Purcari | Vintage | 2019
variety: cabernet sauvignon | saperavi | rara neagra
country: Moldova
region: Stefan Voda
rating: 94.0

//Conclusion
maturity: developing | age for 2 or 3 more years
verdict: great | a must try wine

//Prediction
predicted RP rating: 91

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This is definitely a great wine of Moldova and, with a total of 94.0 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 ample, rich and voluptuous wine blend, with a nuanced, savory accent on the nose and a seedy mouthfeel. It is still in its development phase, therefore we would recommend to give it at least 2 to 3 more years of bottle ageing, in order to allow the wine reach its full potential, as the potential is there, but don’t overdo it as it is always better to drink a wine a year too soon than a day too late. On the nose the wine brings a mixture of ripe and overripe black fruits and some very nuanced savory notes in the foreground, followed by a spicy and oaky background, and a very subtle, earthy layer in between the two. On the palate the wine delivers crisp acidity, seedy tannins and a well integrated touch of alcoholic warmth that is showing through on the mouthfeel, which leads to a pleasantly seedy aftertaste. All in all, this is a round, crisp and expressive wine blend that needs a bit of time to settle down its youthfulness. We believe this wine will pair lovely with any delicate meats, that are rich in natural umami flavour, like for example black angus filet mignon or peppercorn filet mignon 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.