Lockdown Wine #7 - Bostovan Dor Feteasca Neagra And Pinot Noir

Another wine from my Wine Century stocks (which are nearly running out!) - another VERY obscure grape variety

Wine: Bostovan Dor Feteasca Neagra And Pinot Noir

Country: Moldova

Grape: Feteasca Neagra And Pinot Noir

From: Turton Wines: £10.50

Value for Money – 8/10

Quality/Flavour – 8/10

A thoroughly decent full bodied and smooth red. Quite reminiscent of a Merlot. Soft tannins.

Would I buy it again – Yes

From the Turton Wines blurb

Grapes: 51% Feteasca Neagra 49% Pinot Noir.13% Alcohol 

A Moldovan red wine matured for up to 12 months in oak barriques for intense aromas of dark fruit and forest floor. The rich palate shows a fine flavour of wild berries, tones of blackcurrant and black cherries with herbal nuances and subtle cranberries, candied fruits and vanilla.

From Wikipedia

Fetească Neagră (Romanian pronunciation: [feˈte̯askə ˈne̯aɡrə]); English: Black Maiden) is an old pre-phylloxeric variety of Romanian - Moldovan grape,[1] cultivated mainly in several areas in the Romanian regions of Moldavia, Muntenia, Oltenia, Banat, Northern Dobruja[2] and also in the Republic of Moldova.

These grapes produce dry, demi-dry or sweet wines, with an alcohol content of 12-14%,[3] a deep red colour with ruby shades, and a black currant flavour, which becomes richer and smoother with aging. 

Lockdown WIne #6 - Badacsonyi Kéknyelű, Sabar 2018. Grape - Keknyelu

A very rare grape variety from Hungary; only 50 Hectares.

From the Wine Society: A true delicacy made from kéknyelu, an almost mythical Hungarian white grape variety grown in a mere 50 hectares of vineyard in the Badacsony region, next to the stunningly beautiful Lake Balaton. The wine is crisp, medium-bodied and with delicious pear, stone fruit and red apple freshness.

Wine: Badacsonyi Kéknyelű, Sabar 2018

Country:Hungary

Grape: Keknyelu

From the Wine Society, £12.50

Value for Money – 5/10

Quality/Flavour – 7/10

For me, it was just another half decent well made white, but not outstanding and quite pricey.  So, interesting, but not worth crossing the road for.

Lockdown WIne #5 - Prince Stirbey 2018, Romania. Grape: Tamaoioasa Romaneasca

Another wine from my Wine Century collection - a VERY obscure grape variety

Wine: Prince Stirbey 2018.

Country: Romania

Grape: Tamaoioasa Romaneasca (Muscat family).

From the Wine Society, £11.50

Value for Money – 6/10

Quality/Flavour – 8/10

A very pleasant white wine, but quite pricey for what it is. The grape variety is a relative of the Muscat, and you can taste that in the wine. It is something more than the everyday well made, clean fresh whites that we are all used to.

From the Wine Society listing: - The indigenous Romanian tamâioasa româneasca grape produces an enchanting dry white with delicate white fruit, citrus and white-flower aromas and rounded flavour.

Lockdown wine #4 - Mantinia, Moschofilero grape.Greece

Another one from my collection - an unusual grape from Greece, but this one you can get from the Wine Society

Semeli Estate: Mantinia, Moschofilero grape.Greece

The Wine Society £10.95

From the Wine Society Webpage:

This exceptional Greek white beautifully captures the lemon and rose-petal bouquet of the moschofilero grape, with an added hint of spice. Its fresh dry palate makes this is a natural with Greek-style mezedes or as an aperitif.

This estate was launched by the Kokotos family in 1980, beginning with 7 hectares of vineyards in Attiki, outside Athens. Initially they planted just international varieties – namely cabernet sauvignon, merlot and chardonnay – but nearly 20 years later the family also invested in vineyards in Nemea, planting more indigenous varieties like moschofilero and roditis on well-drained slopes, 450 metres above sea level. The vineyards are now certified organic.

From me:

A very nice white – very similar to Viognier, but without that oilyness. Lots of flavour and body – very definitely something to this wine. If you like Viognier, but find it a bit much, this is a wine for you

Value for money – 4/5.

Flavour/Well made etc: 5/5.

Lockdown WIne #3 - Sinano Grand Deluxe, Japan

My Daughter got me this from her recent trip to Japan (late January) as a gift. Its a half bottle, bought from a gift shop. You will not find it for sale anywhere in the UK, as far as I can see.
Sinano Winery is in Nagano, the kikyogahara valley.

http://www.nagano-wine.jp/english/visit/kikyogahara/shinanowine.php

Red Wine
12%
Grapes: Merlot and Muscat Bailey A.

It is "unusual" It has considerable residual sugar, although not sweet as such - a bit like those cheaper californian wines. It gets an online rating of 2.5/5.0 so not that great. Without the sweetness it might be OK, but I'd really give it a miss. I mean, its drinkable, but....

The interesting thing about it is the Muscat Bailey A grape variety
Muscat Bailey A is a deep pink-skinned grape variety used to make light red wines in Japan. It was bred in the 1920s by Kawakami Zenbei, the "grandfather" of Japanese wine.
Muscat Bailey A is a hybrid with a complex genetic heritage. It was created by crossing Muscat of Hamburg with Bailey, itself a little-known crossing whose family tree includes Triomphe and two interestingly named American hybrids, "Big Berry" and "Extra". Muscat of Hamburg (also known as Black Muscat) is a dark-skinned variety used more commonly for table grapes than wine production.
Today, Muscat Bailey A is one of Japan’s most popular wine grapes. It is most often used to make light-styled, fruity reds, low in both tannins and acidity. It is planted in roughly 370 acres (150ha) of vineyard, mostly in the Yamanashi Prefecture, immediately west of Tokyo. Very little is to be found in Niigata Prefecture, the variety’s homeland.

This, of course, explains the sweetness.

S

Lockdown Wine #2 Las Maletas Malbec

And this ones is from Robert W.

Sampling a nice drop of Las Maletas Malbec while cooking dinner.

2015 vintage with specially selected grapes from the Mendoza region of Argentina. 14% fruity nose, damson and a touch of blackcurrant on the tongue with pronounced tannins and reasonable length..

Lockdown Wine #1 - Sangue di Giuda, Croatina Grape

Given the interruption to the regular activities of the UWS, I thought I'd revert to my story of the Wine Century.

I've done the 100 – and have a very nice certificate, and have gone past the 200 now..I have sort of stopped, but if something comes up. Well. Why not? .

So, I have a number of bottles of wine of obscure grape varieties which need drinking. This is one of them. I will be posting weekly on this until I run out.....

I bought this for the Croatina grape, but as an added bonus it has some Uva Rara in there. Nope, I've not heard of either before.

Croatina Grape: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatina

Uva Rara: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uva_Rara

The Wine: Sangue di Giuda 2017, Bruno Verdi.

Region: Pavese, North East Lombardy - City of Pavia

Grapes: Croatina, Barbera, Uva Rara

The interesting thing about this wine is that it is a sweet red wine, low in alcohol at 8.5%, lightly sparkling. Quite like Lambrusco.

I've actually been putting off opening this bottle, as in Sweet Red Wine - really?

 But, it is really nice! Very deep red, light but powerful at the same time, and not that sweet.

The website says:

Intense ruby red with violet tinges, it has a large and complex nose rich in fruity olfactory sensations with a clear memory of typical aromas of wine at a young age. Sweet, slightly moved, fruity, soft, slightly tannic, long, with a very pleasant persistence. Try it with salami or young cacciatorino, fruit tart, homemade donut.

 You will not see it in the supermarket - but it is not too expensive online at <£10 from various sources.

I bought it from Turton Wines,

https://www.turtonwines.co.uk/products/bruno-verdi-sangue-di-giuda-paradiso?_pos=1&_sid=14d455724&_ss=r

Also available from other suppliers