VINARTE | Prince Soare | 2017
merlot | cabernet sauvignon

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Domaine Vinarte has always been synonym with the terroir of Romania, particularly that of the Mehedinti-Starmina region. The winery is known for its commitment to showcasing indigenous grape varieties by applying traditional winemaking techniques while embracing modern practices that elevate quality.
Today we are going to review an iconic wine and a true legend from the Dealurile Olteniei wine region of Romania – a wine that is rightly considered to be one of the best ever made in Romania – Prince Soare 2017 by Domaine Vinarte. This wine is a harmonious blend of two famous grape varieties: merlot and cabernet sauvignon, where merlot forms the wine’s main body and structure, while cabernet sauvignon adds structure, tannin extract and enhances the wine’s color depth. The constant search for perfection makes this wine a real classic – vinified in a genuine Bordeaux-style, with carefully selected, hand picked grapes from the estate’s very best sites: merlot from the Starmina vineyards in Mehedinti and cabernet sauvignon from the famous Bolovanu vineyards in Samburesti. In order to soften the tannins and add a layer of extra complexity to the final blend, the wine has been aged in small, french oak barriques, with additional bottle ageing before it was deemed ready for the market release.

The fertile and hilly landscapes of Mehedinti area, are characterized by warm summers and relatively mild winters, which form almost ideal conditions for ripening grapes. The region is situated in the Carpathian foothills, benefiting from the moderate continental climate influenced by the nearby Danube river. The landscape, marked by rolling hills and valley terraces, provides excellent drainage and ample sunlight, crucial for grape cultivation. The soils here are brown on slopes, alongside fertile alluvial subsoils in valley.

The Samburesti is located in the southern part of Romania, in the historic region of Oltenia, near the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. The vineyards are spread across a rolling landscape with an altitude ranging from 300 to 400 meters, benefiting from a microclimate ideal for viticulture, especially well suited for cultivating red grape varieties. The soils here are predominantly clay with limestone deposits, offering excellent water retention and minerality. The well-drained soil ensures that vines do not suffer from excess moisture, promoting healthy root growth and balanced grape development. Warm summers with long hours of sunshine, allow the grapes to ripen fully and develop intense aromatic compounds, while cool nights during the growing season, maintain a high diurnal range, which preserves the acidity in the wines.

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

In the glass, the wine presents a deep and opaque ruby color, with hazy crimson shades at the rim of the glass, indicating its richness and vibrancy.

intensity: pronounced & vibrant
fruit character: overripe & dehydrated

The olfactory profile is pronounced and vibrantly-rich, revealing a ripe to dehydrated fruit character. The wine exudes an array of black fruits such as dark cherry, prune, blackberry and cassis, accompanied by dried cranberry and black cherry notes in the foreground. Earthy hints of crushed gravel, granite, and pencil lead enhance the aromatic complexity, while a touch of spices in the background – including tonka seeds, peppercorn, and nutmeg – mingles beautifully with those elegant, oak-derived hints of tobacco, cloves, and sun-dried oakwood.

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

On the palate, the wine feels rich, vibrant, and expressive, showcasing ripe fruit character intertwined with a well-structured mouthfeel. It is dry, with exuberant acidity, a well-integrated touch of alcoholic warmth, and ripe tannins, all of which leads to a crisp and seedy aftertaste. The wine delivers a balanced and very complex tasting experience, wrapping up with a full body, defined by a grippy and astringent texture.

maturity: developing | drink now or in the next 2-3 years
verdict: great | a must try wine | a wine that has all the traits to become legendary

Overall, this is a grippy, pungent, and rich wine blend, with an expressive and vibrant aromatic profile, and an appealingly-crisp mouthfeel. It tastes persistent and racy, with a full body that provides a voluptuous palate and a harmoniously-complex structure. Despite its age, this wine is still in its development phase and can be enjoyed today or aged for another 2 to 3 years in order to enhance its amazing character.

For an exquisite harmony, consider pairing this wine with hearthy dishes such as grilled lamb chops with herbs, a savory wild mushroom risotto, or a classic duck confit. The wine’s acidity and tannin structure would complement beautifully the rich flavors of these dishes, thus creating an unforgettable dining experience, by delivering an explosion of flavours and textures. Cheers!
VINARTE | Prince Soare | 2017
variety: merlot | cabernet sauvignon
country: Romania
region: Oltenia | Mehedinti-Starmina | Bolovanu-Samburesti
rating: 95.4

Vinarte winery was founded with a vision to elevate Romania’s reputation in the wine world, establishing the super-premium wine category with its first Soare Cabernet Sauvignon in 1999. The winery is deeply rooted in the rich heritage of Muntenia and has continually pushed the boundaries of quality, aiming for authenticity. Prince Soare is a testament to this legacy, showcasing the winery’s commitment to excellence.

© 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!