CARASTELEC | Carassia 773 | Vintage Brut | 2018
chardonnay | pinot noir

We will be evaluating wines in no particular order on no particular schedule. Just stay tuned and you will never miss our reviews. If the wine is tasted more than once, the rating table will be updated so as to reflect all the new impressions and observations.

Today we are going to review a sparkling wine that we were eager to taste for a very long time – Carassia 773 Vintage Brut 2018 by Carastelec Winery. This wine is a blend of 80% chardonnay (part of which was aged in 500-liters oak barrels, where it underwent malolactic fermentation as well) and 20% pinot noir, produced using the authentic méthode traditionelle technique, the same way the famous Champagne wines are made, with second fermentation in the bottle. The grapes for this sparkling wine are sourced from the Kiscsere and Tóka vineyards, situated in the Crisana wine region of northern Transylvania, and after the second fermentation in the bottle, the wine spent 36 months on fine lees (sur lie). Due to long term ageing on fine lees and further bottle maturation, the wine developed extra complexity on the palate. Also, this is a so called millésime sparkling wine, which means that it was created from a single harvest, that of 2018. The name of the wine is a tribute to the place of its origin and the original terroir – 773, more exactly 1773, was the year when the vineyards around the village of Carastelec were officially cartographed on a map. Needless to mention that this sparkling wine is only made in the very best vintages, in order to guarantee a certain level of sophistication. That said and without further ado, let’s move on straight to the tasting results.
_________________________________________________________________________
Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

//Visual
color: deep yellow color
clarity: pale gold hues

//Olfactory
intensity: powerful & leesy
fruit character: overripe & dehydrated

On the first nose, this sparkling wine unveils a pronounced yeasty accent and an intriguing fruit character marked by overripe and dehydrated nuances. The foreground unfolds a delightful interplay of sweet fruits, featuring hints of overripe quince, dehydrated pear and a touch of golden apple. These flavors intertwine seamlessly with leesy undertones, providing a subtle richness and sophistication to the aromatic profile. As the bouquet develops, subtle, meadowy-herbal undertones emerges in the background, imparting a fresh herbaceous quality to the overall olfactory experience.

//Palate
sweetness: dry | acidity: medium+ | alcohol: medium+ | tannin: low | balance: good
finish: medium+ | aftertaste: appealingly-seedy

On the palate, this sparkling wine delivers a captivating exploration of flavors. The fruit character unfolds a nuanced, overripe and dehydrated character, featuring yellow fruits,  stone fruits and citrus, seamlessly complemented by yeasty notes, creating a palate that is simultaneously complex and well structured. The acidity, though shy, lends a subtle freshness, balancing the richness of the fruit notes, with a touch of alcoholic warmth adding depth, thus leading to an appealingly-seedy aftertaste that lingers pleasantly. The mouthfeel is characterized by a round and firm texture, contributing to a complex interplay of flavors.

//Verdict
maturity: in its prime | drink now or age for up to 4 years
verdict: fine | highly recommended | a wine of premium quality with good potential

All in all, this wine delivers a sensory journey marked by an intricate tapestry of flavors. The mouthfeel is both round and firm, contributing to the wine’s overall complexity. However, a slight shyness in acidity prevents the wine to deliver that crisp freshness that any sparkling wine of this caliber would and, while the wine’s aftertaste is appealingly-seedy, it lacks a bit of finesse on the palate. In summary, this wine provides an ample, round and complex tasting experience, that will indulge those enthusiasts who are seeking for a well structured, complex and sophisticated palate.

//Scoring
CARASTELEC | Carassia 773 | Vintage Brut | 2018
variety: chardonnay | pinot noir
country: Romania | Transilvania
region: Crisana | Silvania
rating: 93.8
_________________________________________________________________________
This is definitely a fine wine of Romania and with a total of 93.8 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: Considering the intricate sophistication of this sparkling wine, we suggest pairing it with a dish that echoes its complexity. Opt for grilled peach and prosciutto bruschetta topped with a honey-balsamic glaze. The overripe and dehydrated fruit notes in the wine, will find a harmonious counterpart in the grilled peaches, while the savory essence of prosciutto will complement the yeasty undertones of the wine. In the same key, the honey-balsamic glaze will add a touch of sweetness, enhancing the wine’s fruitiness, while the alcoholic warmth of the wine will resonate with the grilled flavors of the bruschetta. This pairing creates a symphony of flavors that accentuates the wine’s round and firm mouthfeel, making it an ideal match for a sophisticated, yet approachable dining experience. Enjoy!

_________________________________________________________________________
© 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.