Chateau Vartely delighted the market with a new gem from its Taraboste premium wine collection. Only the unique premium wines produced in a particular year have this honor – this is why each wine from this collection is a paragon of high quality. The 2015 harvest produced a dry red Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wine with a 14,5% alcohol content.
Why Taraboste?
The Tarabostes were noblemen that belonged to the Getae-Dacian aristocracy that lived in Dacia during the Emperor Trajan’s rule (106 — 271 BC). Their name is said to originate from the shape of the caps that only the affluent could wear. The wines from the Taraboste collection pay homage to the ancestors who began the winemaking tradition in Moldova.
The Bordeaux assemblage
This assemblage is made up in a 70/30 ratio of Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot. The grapes are handpicked at the company’s vineyards, located in the south, in the Valul-lui-Traian region, in the vicinity of Budjak village. The grape vines are strong: the Cabernet-Sauvignon vines were planted in 2002 and Merlot in 2004. As requested by the winemakers, the grape growers leave on the vine branches only small clusters of grapes; this way grapes of extremely high-quality are obtained.
«The grapes used to make the Taraboste wines are handpicked when they are fully ripened, Valentin Vranceanu, the head of the production says. – The grapes accumulate high amounts of sugars, this is why the wines have high alcohol percentage (approx. 14,5%, up to 15%). The Taraboste wines made in 2015 – have 14,5% alcohol content. The two components of the wine blend are kept separately in oak barrels for 18 months. Approximately half of the volume of the Cabernet-Sauvignon wine matures in French oak barrels after these had been previously used to mature the Taraboste Chardonnay wine for a year. The other part of the Cabernet-Sauvignon and all of the Merlot wine matures in brand-new barrels made of American oak. Due to the maturation process, the tannins contained in the wine fully develop and give the wine a distinct velvety texture».
Decanting is a must
It is a fully-bodied, vigorous wine that requires good aeration to fully open up. For this particular reason, at the Chateau Vartely tourist complex restaurant, they use a decanter to pour in the wine. The decanting should be ideally done a few hours before consumption. One of our colleagues left his glass of wine for five hours and it gave out a harmony of fruity and berry aromas.
The wine boasts a dark ruby color. The first sniff – gives off notes of aging and dried pears. The wine bouquet emanates a combination of the fragrances: cocoa, coffee, dried pears, black currants, overripe black sour cherry, sweet cherry. When the wine is fully aerated, and the flavors of oak wood begin to fade, the wine takes on brighter colors and oozes a cascade of fruity flavors. The bouquet is so strong that it seems as though it could be sliced.
This full-bodied wine richly imbued with tannins is best served with a plate of barbequed meat. The barbequed ribs and the Taraboste, 2015 is a match made in heaven.
Without a doubt, Taraboste, 2015 has great potential for aging. You can include it in your wine collection without any fear. But, remember to keep it in a dark, cool place.
