GOGU WINERY | Metafora 1000 | 2021
saperavi | cabernet sauvignon | merlot

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Gogu Winery, established by Ilie Gogu in 2014, is a family-owned business with a lineage of winemaking that stretches back four generations. Ilie, a trained winemaker-technologist, aims to produce high-quality wines capable to reflect the unique terroir of southern Moldova. The winery’s dedication to artisanal craftsmanship and quality is reflected in their limited production, ensuring each wine is a true work of art.
Today we are going to review a wine that has recommended itself as one of the best local red blends – Metafora 1000 2021 by Gogu Winery. This wine is a harmonious blend of three grape varieties: saperavi (45%), cabernet sauvignon(45%) and merlot (15%), where saperavi creates the up-front richness by adding black fruit flavors, spice and the characteristic notes of liquorice and studded leather, while also enhancing the wine’s color depth, cabernet sauvignon strengthens the wine’s structure and add firmness to the body, whereas merlot builds a more refined mid-palate and offers a leaner and a more dynamic finish.

The grapes for this wine were sourced from the Stefan Voda IGP, which is one of Moldova’s most famous wine regions. In order to soften the tannins and add a layer of extra complexity to the final blend, the wine has been aged for 24 months in oak barriques, with additional bottle ageing before it is deemed ready for the market release. Needless to mention that the wine has been produced in a limited edition of only 1000 bottles, hence the ‘1000‘ suffix in the name of the wine.

The Stefan Voda wine region is distinguished by its diverse landscapes and warm continental climate, which allows for optimal grape ripening, especially suited for red grape varieties. The soil is rich in minerality, comprising clay and loam, that provides excellent drainage and supports vital nutrients for the vine growing. This unique soil composition, combined with the region’s distinct microclimate, that balances an abundance of sun exposure with refreshing rainfall, tempered by the cool breezes from the Black Sea, contributes to the expressive and rich profile of the resulting wines.

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

In the glass, the wine presents a deep ruby color with hazy ruby shades towards the rim of the glass, hinting at its youthful character and robust structure.

intensity: pronounced & oaky-herbal
fruit character: ripe

On the nose, the wine is pronounced and oaky, with a ripe fruit character complemented by a herbal accent. The aromatic profile reveals vibrant black fruits, including dark cherry, black plum, cassis, prune, and blackberry, tied together with subtle hints of dust and ink. The background mixes oak influences like cigar box, cloves, and vanilla bean, along with herbal elements such as dill, parsley and dried herbs, providing a complex aromatic profile.

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

The palate feels firm, rich, and expressive, marked by a nuanced new world style of vinification. The wine is dry, with exuberant acidity, a touch of alcoholic warmth, and seedy tannins that create a pleasantly seedy mouthfeel. The finish is crisp and seedy, leaving a noteworthy aftertaste that lingers with vibrant, black fruit flavours and hints of baking spice.

maturity: developing | drink now or age for at least 2 or 3 years
verdict: fine | highly recommended | a wine of premium quality with good potential

Overall, this is a crisp, seedy, and oaky-expressive wine blend with a rich and flamboyant character that is further enhanced by a pleasantly seedy mouthfeel. It has overwhelming acidity that indicates youthful exuberance, suggesting that further maturation will enhance its complexity and maybe even deliver the much needed elegance over time. That being said, the wine is currently in the development phase and would greatly benefit from at least 2 or 3 more years of bottle aging. Drink now through 2027.

GOGU WINERY | Metafora 1000 | 2021
variety: saperavi | cabernet sauvignon | merlot
country: Moldova
region: Stefan Voda
rating: 93.2

The wine’s exuberant acidity makes it an excellent pairing for BBQ or classic steaks, as the richness of the meat would complement the wine’s vibrancy, thus creating a perfect harmony between all the elements. Alternatively, it would pair well with grilled lamb chops or rich mushroom risotto, which would accentuate the wine’s herbal tones and complement those nuanced oaky notes with the delicacy of the dish flavours.

The Metafora 1000 is produced in a limited edition of only 1000 bottles and features a distinctive label that is inspired by nature and transformation depicting vine roots, thus reflecting the winery’s connection to the local terroir, while also highlighting its commitment to nature by applying organic farming in the vineyard.

© 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!