MAESTRO | Merlot | Blanc de Noirs | 2023
merlot

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Maestro Wines is renowned for its commitment to crafting exciting wines, a winery that embodies the passion for meticulous craftsmanship. With its vineyards planted in Moldova’s Valul lui Traian and Stefan Voda regions, the winery takes pride in its organic practices and deep-rooted philosophy that respects the local traditions but with a modern twist.
Today we are going to review a quite interesting wine from the Stefan Voda region, situated in the south of Moldova – Merlot Blanc de Noirs 2023 by Maestro Wines. This is a single varietal merlot wine that is made in the non-traditional blanc de noir style – a technique of making white wines using only red varieties, in other words, this is a white wine made of red grapes. In order to make a white wine from red grapes, winemakers use a technique, where the juice from the grapes is separated from the skins and seeds as soon as possible to avoid pigmentation and tannin extraction. The resulting wine is quite close to a regular white wine, because the pulp of the merlot berries is gray, therefore it does not provide any color extract, except if the must had some skin contact in order to extract more phenolic compounds to enhance the wine’s aromatic complexity. If skin contact is allowed during the vinification process (this is called maceration), anthocyanin color compounds rapidly di the grape must, resulting in pink or red wine. White wines made from red grapes, may also display a fuller mouthfeel than most whites made from white grape varieties, as well as hints of red berry fruits despite the lack of color pigment.

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: transparent straw-white color
clarity: pale straw-yellow hues at the rim

In the glass, the wine displays a transparent straw-white color with pale straw-yellow shades at the rim, illustrating its pristine clarity.

intensity: rich & zesty
fruit character: ripe

On the nose the wine showcases a rich and zesty accent, highlighting a ripe fruit character with prominent citrus notes such as lemon zest, pomelo, and lemon peel, alongside orchard fruits such as apple, asian pear, and gooseberry. The background reveals herbal undertones of nettle and lemongrass, which are complemented by subtle floral hints such as acacia and elderflower, which in turn creates a quite intriguing aromatic complexity.

sweetness: dry | acidity: high | alcohol: high | tannin: medium- | balance: fair
finish: short | aftertaste: bitter-green

On the palate, the wine feels green, zesty, and slightly angular. It is dry, with medium+ body and zesty acidity, followed by a noticeable touch of alcoholic warmth, which leads to a intriguingly-bitter-green aftertaste with a subtle touch of phenolic bitterness, offering a refreshing contrast to the nuanced nose.

maturity: in its prime | drink now or within a year
verdict: fair | acceptable & simple | a decent wine that lacks some structure

Overall, this is a wine that is currently in its prime form, offering a delightful drinking experience. With a refreshing mouthfeel and vivid acidity, this wine is easy to drink and encourages sip after sip. Though it may lack some finesse, its vibrancy and crispness prevail, making it an appealing choice for immediate enjoyment, simply perfect for any occasions without putting too much emphasis on an event.

MAESTRO | Merlot | Blanc de Noirs | 2023
variety: merlot
country: Moldova
region: Stefan Voda
rating: 90.7

This is a quite versatile wine that would pair beautifully with a wide variety of dishes. We would recommend pairing it with grilled or pan-seared fish seasoned with herbs, enhancing the wine’s herbal notes and counter-balancing the floral hints in the wine while the wine’s zesty freshness would complement the fat-rich textures of the dish. Additionally, try it alongside light salads with citrus-based dressings, which would harmonize elegantly with the wine zestiness, resulting in a refreshing experience.

© 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!