CRAMA FERDI | Mister M. Legend | 2021
merlot

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Nestled in the heart of Romania’s wine producing region, the famous Dealu Mare, Crama Ferdi is a boutique winery, founded in 2009 by Fernando Mihăilescu in Tohani. The winery embodies passion for winemaking by enhancing quality over quantity, thus mastering the art of traditional viticulture while embracing innovative winemaking techniques. Crama Ferdi represents microvinification at its finest: each wine is a piece of art.

Today we are are going to review a quite unique, single varietal merlot wine from the famous Dealu Mare region of Romania – Mister M. Legend 2021 by Crama Ferdi. Merlot is usually regarded as the underdog to the highly priced cabernet sauvignon or cabernet franc varieties, but make no mistake, merlot wine is first class, as it is more versatile and ripens earlier than both cabernet grapes, responds well to oak ageing and can be grown in both, cool climate and warm climate regions with the same success.

Mister M. embodies the winery’s core philosophy: a limited edition wine (only 600 bottles have been produced) crafted with precision and utmost care – a classic example of modern microvinification and a commitment to crafting wines that tell the story of their origins and the people behind it. Each bottle is a piece of art, rich in cultural heritage and a winemaking legacy that dates back for many centuries. The grapes are hand-harvested to ensure only the best fruit is selected. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks to retain the fresh and vibrant characteristics of the grapes. The wine is then aged for 20 months in small oak barriques in order to enhance its complexity and depth of flavors, with additional bottle ageing time before it was deemed ready for the market release.

Located in a hilly landscape, the Dealu Mare region’s varied altitudes and endless slopes foster excellent drainage and aeration necessary for vine health. The region benefits from a combination of geographical advantages that define its unique terroir. Its close proximity of the Carpathian Mountains moderates temperature extremes, allowing for a longer growing season. Its terroir is characterized by limestone-rich soils and a favorable microclimate defined by warm sunny days and cool nights. The elevation aids in preserving natural acidity while allowing the grapes to ripen fully. These natural elements combine to create wines that allows for the full expression of each grape variety with vibrant and complex aromas.
© Map credits: crameromania.ro

color: deep & opaque ruby color
clarity: hazy ruby shades at the rim

In the glass, this wine exhibits a deep and opaque ruby color, transitioning to hazy ruby shades at the rim.

intensity: pronounced & fruity-expressive
fruit character: ripe & overripe

The olfactory experience is marked by a pronounced and fruity-expressive aromatic profile, leaning towards ripe and overripe fruits. Notes of black fruits, including dark cherry, black plum, blackcurrant, and blackberry, play the main role, complemented by enticing spice hints of peppercorn and nutmeg. In the background, nuances of oak bring forth hints of tobacco, cloves, and toasted oakwood alongside subtle earthy elements reminiscent of charcoal and charred wood, all of that enriched by a sweet jammy accent.

sweetness: dry | acidity: high | alcohol: high | tannin: high | balance: good
finish: medium+ | aftertaste: crisp & heady

On the palate, the wine delivers a quite firm and bold structure, with a slightly angular sensation on the mouthfeel. The wine feels dry, with exuberant acidity and a noticeable warmth from the alcohol. The ripe and grippy tannins contribute to a crisp and heady aftertaste, leaving a pleasantly-seedy texture that invites further exploration.

maturity: developing | drink now or age for at least 3 to 5 more years
verdict: fine | highly recommended | a wine of premium quality with good potential

Overall, this is a flamboyant and oaky-expressive merlot that is still in its developmental stage, requiring at least 3 to 5 more years of bottle ageing to harmonize its components fully. Currently, it reveals a ripe to overripe fruit character on the nose alongside a pleasantly grippy palate. While there is potential for refinement, the wine stands out as an excellent example of Romania’s southern terroir, showcasing its bold and rich character with an essence of aggressive youthfulness, positioning it closer to a new world cabernet sauvignon or syrah wine in terms of style and body.

CRAMA FERDI | Mister M. Legend | 2021
variety: merlot
country: Romania | Muntenia
region: Dealu Mare | Tohani
rating: 93.8

We recommend pairing this wine with a hearty roasted duck or a fillet mignon steak, as the rich savory accents of the dish will contrast beautifully with the wine’s bold flavors. Alternatively, it would harmonize wonderfully with a mushroom risotto, helping to merge the depth of the wine with the earthy notes of the dish in order to create an unforgettable wine tasting experience.

Crama Ferdi prioritizes sustainable farming methods, employing organic practices to ensure a healthy vineyard ecosystem. Each produced bottle is supervised by the winemaker, Fernando Marius Mihailescu.

© 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. Cheers!