Purcari Rara Neagra de Purcari 2013

You may not be familiar with the wines of Moldova, but this Eastern European country, bordering Romania and Ukraine, has been producing wines for some 5,000 years.

Most of it's commercial wines are produced for export and the industry is vital to the country's economy. Russia has been the main destination for Moldovan wines however that is changing as Russia has imposed bans on the importation of wines from the country due to 'Phyto-sanitary' concerns. In reality Russia is trying to discourage Moldova from seeking closer ties with Europe.

I have no concerns about the quality of Purcari wines.  The LCBO tests the products it imports and the Queen of England imports one of the 1990 vintages for personal consumption.  If it's fit for the Queen then it is fit for me.

This particular wine is made with babeasca neagra grapes.  This variety is cultivated in Romania and Moldova, but is also grown in Ukraine and New York State where it is known as Sereksia.

According to Wikipedia, the Romanian words mean "Grandmother's Black" but are known to produce light-bodied, fruity red wines. This wine however is full-bodied, as we will discuss below.

Wine:  Purcari Rara Neagra de Purcari

Location: Moldova

Alcohol content: 14%

Sugar content: 6g/L

Price: $20.95

Vintages number: 426262

The wine is an extremely deep red colour making the 'neagra' name understandable. The smells are subtle but I detect slight vanilla, spice and berry. At 14% alcohol, it is classically defined as a full-bodied wine (According to my sources at Winepair.com).  I have previously incorporated the flavour profile in my understanding of light, medium and full-bodied wines but this is apparently not the accepted definition.  Apparently it refers almost exclusively to the alcohol content of the wine. The more alcohol the more viscous the wine feels in your mouth.

For people who have been following my blog, this is a reminder that I am an amateur who appreciates wine but is definitely not a connoisseur.  I will correct this in future reviews but judge past reviews accordingly. 

Like the smells, the flavours are more subtle than one might expect. Plum, vanilla and slight spice with a slightly astringent finish. Of the previous wines I have reviewed, I would say the flavour profile is reminiscent of the Romanian Domaines Vincon and the feel similar to the first wine I reviewed, the Tamada Mukuzani from the Republic of Georgia.

Although this wine does not contain the strong berry flavours I usually prefer, this wine is a pleasure to drink.  Smooth with a clean finish, this is a wine I would gladly drink again.  

Recommendation:  Uncork

Rating:                  8.5 out of 10

Domaines Vincon Feteasca Neagra 2009

Another new grape variety from a country many people may not be familiar with.  Romania is one of the world's largest producers of wine (11th most in 2009) and has a history with viticulture dating back 6,000 years.

The grape is the feteasca neagra, an old variety grown in Romania and Moldova.

Wine:  Domaines Vincon Feteasca Neagra 2009
Location:  Focsani County, Romania (About 180 km north of Bucharest)
Grape:  Feteasca Neagra
Sugar Content:  8g/L
Alcohol:  13%
Price:  $13.35
Vintages number: 669192

This wine has the typical dark red-ruby colour of the feteasca neagra grape. The smell of blackberry and slight spice is also found in the flavour.

For a wine with such deep colour I expected a strong flavour also but that was not the case. I would describe it as a medium-bodied wine with a smooth finish and similarities to the Georgian mukuzani I reviewed earlier but without the chalky feel.

While it may not make it into my regular rotation, it was a pleasant tasting wine and I look forward to trying other wines made with the feteasca neagra grape.

Recommendation:  Uncork
Rating:                   7.5 out of 10