VINARTE | Sirena Dunarii | Volumul III | 2013
welschriesling
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Today we are going to review a legendary wine, that is not only a delicious, single-varietal welschriesling dessert wine, but a real gem from the relatively unknown Mehedinti region of Romania – Sirena Dunarii Volumul III 2013 by Domaine Vinarte. Welschriesling (also known as wälschriesling, welschrizling, laskirizling, olaszrizling, riesling italico or italian riesling) has nothing to do with the great german riesling – the former is a late ripening grape variety that can produce high-acid, gently aromatic white wines of good to very good quality, particularly in Burgenland (Austria), where it regularly makes superb, sweet botrytised dessert wines. It is also planted widely in Friuli (Italy), Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Albania and even China. What makes this wine really special, is the fact that the grapes were affected by noble rot (also known as botrytis cinerea) – a fungus that shrivels and dehydrate the wine grapes, thus concentrating acids and sugars, which in turn intensifies the sweetness level of the wine and adds flavor complexity, due to higher levels of phenylacetaldehyde (a special aroma compound found mostly in botrytis affected berries), creating some of the most delicious sweet wines in the world. But that’s not all, in order to enhance the overall complexity of the wine and make it truly enchanted (this is exactly what the label says – vin fermecat, which means enchanted wine), it has been aged in oak barrels for an astonishing period of 60 months (5 years)! This is a wine that has been highly appreciated by two of the most influential publications in the world of wine: Decanter World Wine Awards and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. 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: deep orange color
clarity: bright golden hues
//Olfactory
intensity: pronounced & mature
fruit character: dehydrated & jammy
This delicious wine unfolds on the nose with a captivating and extremely appealing bouquet. The foreground is filled by a delightful richness of dried fruits, reminiscent of raisins, figs and dehydrated apricots. These sweet aromas meld seamlessly with jammy undertones, hinting at quince jam and confied peaches. Beneath this initial burst lies a sweet layer of honey and walnut jam, adding even more complexity. Subtle hints of dried herbs linger in the background, bringing a touch of elegance and sophistication to the aromatic profile.
//Palate
sweetness: extra sweet | acidity: high | alcohol: medium+ | tannin: low | balance: fine
finish: long | aftertaste: velvety
The palate mirrors the nose with a delightful richness. A wave of dried fruit flavors mingles with jammy notes that evoke confied fruit. Hints of honey add another layer of sweetness, while a subtle touch of oak peeks through, adding even more flavour sophistication. The wine’s crisp acidity keeps the mouthfeel lively, balanced by a well-integrated alcoholic warmth that contributes to the wine’s ample and rich palate that ends with a velvety-sweet aftertaste.
//Verdict
maturity: past its prime | fully mature | drink now or within a year
verdict: great | a must try wine | a wine that has all the traits to become legendary
Overall, this wine presents a captivating and fully mature tasting experience, as this is a well-structured and harmonious dessert wine that is reaching into the realms of perfection. While nearing the end of its drinking window, it is still offering a complex and truly memorable tasting experience that will please those wine enthusiasts, who appreciate a luxurious, botrytis-affected dessert wine at its finest.
//Scoring
VINARTE | Sirena Dunarii | Volumul III | 2013
variety: welschriesling
country: Romania
region: Oltenia | Mehedinti
rating: 95.4
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This is definitely a great wine of Romania and with a total of 95.4 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: Due to the wine’s rich and complex profile and its crisp acidity, we believe it would pair lovely with light and creamy desserts. The wine’s sweetness and that mesmerizing, honeyed-jammy character would complement beautifully the light sweetness of desserts like panna cotta or crème brûlée. The wine’s acidity will help cut through the richness of the soft textures in the dish, while the dried fruit and jammy flavors in the wine will echo the fruit components in these desserts. This pairing has the potential to create a harmonious balance between the sweetness of the wine and the dessert, allowing both to shine on the palate, without overshadowing each other’s delightfulness. 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.
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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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