CRAMA MENNINI | Paolo Mennini | Negru de Dragasani | 2018
negru de dragasani
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Today we are going to review a single-varietal negru de dragasani wine from the famous Dragasani region of Romania – Paolo Mennini Negru de Dragasani 2018 by Crama Mennini. Negru de Dragasani is an indigenous romanian grape variety, obtained as a hybrid crossing between Negru Vartos and Saperavi varieties back in 1993. Negru de Dragasani has medium vigor and good fertility, resistant to frost and mildew and it produces deeply colored red wines with nuanced black fruits flavours. This wine is one of the few single varietal negru de dragasani wines on the market and is signed by the famous italian oenologist, Paolo Mennini who is also the founder of Crama Mennini and, in order to soften the tannins and add a layer of extra complexity to the final blend, the wine has been aged in oak barrels. 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
color: deep & opaque ruby color
clarity: hazy indigo shades on the rim
//Olfactory
intensity: rich & woody
fruit character: ripe -> overripe
The first impression on the nose is bold and assertive, with a burst of ripe and overripe black fruit aromas that takes center stage, reminiscent of black cherries and dark plums and aronia berries. Intriguingly, interwoven with the fruit are nuances of charred wood, like those of a toasted oakwood, which suggests some oak influence, but with a slightly rustic and robust character. Earthy undertones emerge in the background, adding a touch of complexity, while pronounced notes of oak and spice further enrich and round up the wine’s aromatic profile. This is a wine that doesn’t shy away from boldness, offering a mix of ripe fruit, rustic oak and spicy intrigue.
//Palate
sweetness: bone dry | acidity: high | alcohol: high | tannin: high | balance: good
finish: medium | aftertaste: astringent
The palate follows the nose, delivering a wave of ripe and overripe black fruit flavors, mirroring the bold character displayed on the aromatic plane. However, unlike the initial intrigue on the nose, here the fruit feels more heavy and lacks freshness. The oak influence translates into prominent flavors of oaktree bark and peppercorn, displaying the same rustic and robust character. Earthy tones emerge in the background, but don’t quite add complexity, rather muscles and even more structure. Despite the bright acidity, a noticeable alcoholic warmth dominates the palate, throwing it slightly off the balance. The tannins are grippy, thus forming a lingering astringency on the mouthfeel, which in turns leads to an aftertaste that is dominated by astringency and alcoholic warmth, creating a disjointed overall tasting experience.
//Verdict
maturity: developing | needs more time | age for another 5 years
verdict: fine | highly recommended | a wine of premium quality with good potential
All in all, this wine unveils a quite bold and assertive character, boasting a mix of ripe to overripe black fruit aromas, that are accented with pronounced notes of charred oakwood and spicy undertones. However, the wine falls short on the palate, as while it tastes full-bodied and intense, it come across as a slightly heavy wine. The acidity struggles to keep up with the prominent alcoholic warmth, and the tannins are quite harsh, forming a lingering astringency on the mouthfeel. Overall, the wine feels disjointed and a bit rough around the edges, and while it might appeal to those who enjoy a robust and rustic style of red wine, it currently lacks the harmony and finesse one would expect from a wine of this caliber. It will definitely benefit from additional bottle aging, in order to allow all its elements to integrate further and round up its rough edges.
//Scoring
CRAMA MENNINI | Paolo Mennini | Negru de Dragasani | 2018
variety: negru de dragasani
country: Romania | Oltenia
region: Dragasani
rating: 92.3
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This is definitely a fine wine of Romania and, with a total of 92.3 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 this wine’s bold character, high alcohol content and astringent tannins, it would be best suited for rich and flavorful dishes that can stand up to its strong personality. Barbecued brisket with maple chipotle sauce would be a lovely pairing option, as the smoky and savory flavors of the barbecue would complement the charred oak character of the wine, while the sweet richness of the brisket would match the wine’s full body. In the same key, the fat-rich content on the brisket would counter-balance the grippy tannins of the whine, while the sweetness of the maple sauce would balance the slightly high alcohol warmth in the wine. This pairing would allow both, the power of the wine and the smoky richness of the barbecue to shine through, creating a truly harmonious tasting experience. 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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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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