-
Pages
-
Categories
-
Archives
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- November 2023
- May 2023
- January 2023
- October 2022
- July 2022
- May 2022
- February 2022
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
White Wine of Moldova
On Monday July 28th, Kathy and I attended a tasting of Wine of Moldova in Washington D.C. Eleven producers were set up at tables pouring 32 wines representative of the four wine regions in the Southeastern European country. My first impression is that the wines, including international varieties, Georgian varieties and native varieties were very expressive of the minerality and earth of the region. This expressiveness reminded me of the wines from Prince Edward County in Ontario, Canada and Marlborough in New Zealand, two wine regions that produce wines that are also revealing of the soil.
After tasting several white wines, the white wines made from the indigenous grape Feteasca Alba were my favorites. Several wineries had this wine at the tasting. Cricova was my favorite. The light yellow colored wine offered yellow stone fruit and minerality on the aroma and taste. There was a crisp finish with a lingering fruit aftertaste. This wine would pair well with fruit as well as make a good 3P wine (porch, patio, pool). Other white wines tasted included a Sauvignon Blanc that was reminiscent of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, a couple different Chardonnays, a Pinot Grigio, a Traminer and a white blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Blanc.
There was one white Brut Sparkling Wine also by Cricova made by the traditional method with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This was the first wine tasted and a great first wine to taste at the event since it was palate cleansing and introduced the minerality that would be tasted in all the wines. Perhaps the best white wine to taste last was the Chateau Vartely Ice Wine Muscat Ottonel 2011. The sweetness of this wine along with the the orange blossoms masked, to some extent, the mineral and earthiness of many of the wines.
Curious about the earthy and mineral character of the wines, I mentioned this to Dumitru Munteanu, Director of National Office of Vine and Wine in Moldova. Dumitru mentioned that at one time the land that makes up Moldova was under a sea. The rich fertile soils are black in color and these soils give the wines the unique mineral and earthy characteristics.
Will American consumers have an opportunity to taste wine of Moldova? Hopefully some stores will begin to stock a few bottles. The wines made from the international grapes are reflective of the land where they are grown and provide a difference in taste. The native grape Feteasca Alba is certainly one that wine enthusiasts should search and taste.
Cheers,
Terry