Red Wine Chateau Purcari Cabernet Sauvignon de Purcari 2020. Wine has been made in Moldova for thousands of years, but it is only in the last couple of centuries that this small country has drawn international attention for its excellent wines. In 1827 Tsar Nicholas I issued a special decree recognising Chateau Purcari as the first official winery in Bessarabia which is today known as Moldova. This iconic estate is located close to the Black Sea in the south-eastern corner of Moldova. French settlers in the region quickly noticed the similarities between the local terroir and their native Bordeaux since the area sits at the same latitude as the famous French wine region and also boasts the same rubidium-rich soil types. This makes it particularly well-suited to Bordeaux varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon which thrive here. This stunning Cabernet is crafted exclusively from estate-grown fruit which is carefully harvested by hand and vinified using traditional winemaking methods. The young wine is then matured in French oak barrels for 6 months to soften the tannins and add complexity. Full bodied and richly flavored, this dark and handsome Cabernet is bursting with cassis, blackberry and dark cherry notes along with hints of spice, leather and woodsmoke from the oak ageing.
2020
Red Wine Chateau Purcari Cabernet Sauvignon de Purcari 2020
Red Wine Chateau Purcari Limited Edition Pinot Noir 2020. Chateau Purcari is a Moldovan winery of immense stature, with a deep wine-making history and hundreds of medals earned at international contests. The winery’s name is synonymous with the region itself, nestled in Moldova’s southeastern region near the Ukrainian border. Purcari was granted the status of the first specialised winery in Bessarabia, now Moldova, in 1827, but its history goes even further back than that. As early as the 1700s, French settlers recognised that Purcari’s soils were curiously similar to Bordeaux’s. For that reason, Bordeaux varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec are still the predominant grapes at Purcari, but the Burgundian Pinot Noir is also planted here. Aromas of strawberry, raspberry and violet burst from this wine, subtle yet still complex. It is made from 100% Pinot Noir, giving it a vampirical purple-red colour. Like all of Purcari’s wines, the grapes are matured in barrels of French oak. It is velvety and bold in the mouth, revealing strong notes of cherry and blackcurrant, a backbone of acidity and medium tannins. It has a lingering finish with a subtle ripening effect. Pairs very well with venison, tender asparagus and sweet/salty cheese, such as Gruyère.
2020
Red Wine Chateau Purcari Malbec de Purcari 2020. Typical Bordeaux grape varieties like Malbec, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc have been planted in the south-eastern corner of Moldova for several centuries. French settlers to the region noticed how similar the land was to their native Bordeaux and teamed up with the local monks to experiment with these French varieties. This tradition has been continued by Chateau Purcari which was founded here in 1827 following an imperial decree issued by Tsar Nicholas I. The fruit for this handsome Merlot is carefully picked by hand to ensure perfect quality and then vinified according to traditional local winemaking techniques. Before bottling the young wine is aged in French oak barrels for 6 months Luscious blackberries, plums and hints of violets burst out of the glass while the first sip reveals a well-rounded medium body, firm tannins and a very smooth texture. The easy-going flavour profile makes this wine a great option to share with family and friends over casual dinners, although it can also be kept in the cellar for a few more years.
2020