Romanian Wines, Presented by Richard Bost.

Richard always brings along something unusual – Turkish, Mexican, etc. This time it was Romanian Wine. Romanian wine is at the budget end of the scale – the question – is it any good?

As always, 8 wines

1. Rhein Extra Brut Rose 12.5% NV.
2. La Catina Viognier Tamaioasa Romaneasca 2013. 13% - Laithwaites
3. La Umbra Chardonnay 2013 12.5% - Waitrose
4. Theia Chardonnay 2012. 14% - Laithwaite
5. Paris Street Pinot Noir Rose 2013. 13% - Laithwaites
6. Waitrose Pinot Noir 2013. 13%
7. La Catina Single vineyard Pinot Noir 2011 13% - The Wine Society
8. Burebista Shiraz Feteasca Neagra 2013 13% - Laithwates

Most (all??) of the wines are produced by Halewood Romania,, and Richard was presenting on their behalf. As always highly entertaining and the evening went with a swing.

I'll be honest here, Pinot Noir is not my favourite grape, but these were all drinkable and the pinot freaks were reasonably impressed, and all 3 are excellent value.

The Rhein Rose sparkling is, apparently, the “state” sparkling wine of Romania and gets served at state banquets. Apparently if it were on sale in the UK – which it isn't , it would be only around £12 a bottle – competitive with other good sparkling wines.

I really liked the Viognier blend and at £7.49 its well worth a try. The same goes for the other whites – good stuff, good value, and worth a punt.

 

The best was kept until last - the Shiraz blend - at £8.49 a bottle is something of a bargain. Certainly the 2 we tried were. Looking at online reviews it looks to be somewhat variable.