Stefan Voda, Moldova
Fermentation and aging are completed in new French oak barriques, which has a significant impact on the flavour and texture of this delicious red. Red berry fruits mingle with baking spices and red licorice on the nose. The palate offers tart cranberry, mature raspberry, cola and nutmeg with a medium-bodied mouthfeel, soft tannins and vigorous acidity. This is so easy to drink and a beautiful showcase of one of the most unknown winemaking regions in the world. This can be very lightly chilled (but definitely not served cold) to go alongside grilled sausages, duck or smoky salmon.
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After 600 years of contiguous planting, Château Purcari started bottling under its iconic label in 1827. In 1878, Negru de Purcari, a blend featuring the indigenous Rara Neagra, was awarded a gold medal in a blind tasting at the Paris World Expo. Most believed it to be an exceptional new Bordeaux. This is not surprising, as the wine regions of Moldova sit at the same latitude as Bordeaux, their soils are similar and they share a lot of similar climactic conditions. At the turn of the century, the winery replanted 250 ha of vineyards, refreshing and retraining the vines with an eye towards crafting fine wines instead of the large volumes of inexpensive wines demanded by Moldova’s former largest export partner, Russia.