TARABOSTE | Pur Aristocratic | Reserva | 2018
cabernet sauvignon | merlot

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Today we are are going to review a Bordeaux-styled blend that is considered to be among the best red wines of Moldova – Taraboste Pur Aristocratic Reserva 2018 by Château Vartely. This is the winemaker’s flagship red wine (you can check here our reviews for its previous versions: 2015, 2016, 2017 and the twin sibling 2018) – a blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot grape varieties, where cabernet sauvignon forms the wine’s main body and structure, while merlot adds up-front richness and rounds up the final blend, delivering some much desired smoothness on the finish. ‘Cab-Merlot‘ is, in fact, the world’s most famous wine blending formula for red wines, where cabernet sauvignon is softened by merlot on the mid-palate, while merlot is enriched by cabernet sauvignon in terms of flavours, color and tannin. This particular wine is vinified in a classic Bordeaux-style, made of grapes that were sourced from the warm Bugeac region (in the south of Moldova) and aged for 33 months in new, french oak barriques in order to gain some extra complexity and finesse. The wine is part of the Taraboste line, which is a tribute to the dacian ancestors, who set up the old traditions of winemaking in the northern Balkans regions. 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 | noble ruby color
clarity: hazy | garnet shades on the rim

//Olfactory
intensity: pronounced & oaky
fruit character: ripe & overripe

On the first nose, the wine delivers ripe and overripe black fruits and some pronounced oaky notes. The foreground is filled with aromas of black cherry, black plum and blackberry, accompanied by nuanced hints of aronia berry and sweet tobacco. The presence of oak is notable, with scents of roasted oakwood that provides a delightful depth to the wine’s bouquet, along with subtle notes of cloves and nutmeg. As the aromatics unfolds, a touch of pencil lead and black soil dust emerges in the background, enhanced by undertones of cherry tree sap, thyme, bay leaf and hints of liquorice. This wine encapsulates the essence of a modern, terroir-driven Bordeaux-styled blend, bringing together the richness of the fruit, alluring spiciness and that mesmerizing earthy complexity to create an appealing wine tasting experience.

//Palate
sweetness: dry | acidity: high | alcohol: high | tannin: high | balance: good
finish: medium+ | aftertaste: crisp

On the palate, this wine showcases a firm and full-bodied character that commands attention. The overwhelming acidity instantly invigorates the senses, while the firm and ripe tannins provide a satisfying grip on the mouthfeel. A touch of alcoholic warmth adds depth and strength on the wine’s palate. The fruit character is dominated by ripe and overripe black fruits, while those nuanced oaky-spicy notes add extra complexity to the wine’s already rich flavour profile, enhancing its multi-dimensionality. All of this leads to a crisp and appealing aftertaste, leaving a lasting impression, like a well made Bordeaux-blend should.

//Verdict
maturity: developing | drink now or age for 3 or 4 more years
verdict: great | a must try wine

Overall, this is an ample, firm, and rich wine blend that showcases a plump and slightly youthful character. Its crisp and complex mouthfeel captivates the palate, highlighting the interplay of vibrant black fruits, well-integrated oak and those appealing earthy-dusty notes. With its well-structured and nicely balanced profile, still, in its current state the wine lacks a bit of finesse on the palate. However, it holds promises for future development in the bottle, where it will certainly gain some elegance, as the potential is clearly there. This Bordeaux-styled wine blend is a fine choice for those wine enthusiasts, seeking for an authentic expression of a marriage between the rustic, old-world style and the expressive, new-world style of vinification.

//Scoring
TARABOSTE | Pur Aristocratic | Reserva | 2018
variety: cabernet sauvignon | merlot
country: Moldova
region: Valul lui Traian | Bugeac
rating: 93.6
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This is definitely a great wine of Moldova and, with a total of 93.6 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.

Pairing: Based on the wine’s rich, bold and complex character, we would recommend to pair it with a classic steakhouse favorite: a perfectly grilled rib-eye steak served with a side of roasted potatoes and sautéed spinach. The wine’s firm structure and firm tannins will complement beautifully the robust flavors of the steak, while the wine’s ample, full-bodied nature will match the meat’s richness and textures. In the same key, the wine’s crisp aftertaste and bright acidity will provide a delightful contrast to the charred and fat-rich character of the steak, while the earthy undertones and oak flavors in the wine will harmonize nicely with the earthy notes of the roasted potatoes and add depth to the sautéed spinach. Enjoy!

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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.