2013 Vranec Special Selection, Tikves Winery
Wine Variety: This potent red grape shares DNA with a whole slew of varieties around the Balkan region, where it appears to have been grown for many centuries. Vranac, or Vranec, shares DNA with Tribidrag, a grape that is genetically identical to Zinfandel. Vranac's bunches are compact, the berries thin-skinned: something of a surprise considering how tannic is the wine it produces. The name of this variety translates as "strong black", referencing the potency and colour of the wine it produces.
Wine Region: The Republic of Macedonia is a landlocked country that used to be part of Yugoslavia. Indeed, greater Macedonia also covered parts of Greece and Bulgaria, too The Greeks still dispute the use of the name. 85% of the country's vineyard area is within the central River Vardar valley; 41% in Tikves, from where comes this wine. It is now thought that this region is the cradle of global wine production. Recent investment has given rise to a resurgence of quality in the Republic of Macedonia.
Wine Producer: Tikves Winery opened its doors 130 years ago and is apparently the largest and oldest winery in south-east Europe. Bought in 2003 by the Texas-based M6 Investment Group, Tikves has been the beneficiary of €30M of new investment and is now a fully modernised winery.
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Style:
Red - full-bodied |
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Grape Variety:
Vranac |
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Producer:
Tikves Winery |
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Serving Temperature:
2017°C
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Alcohol Content:
14%
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Country:
Republic of Macedonia |
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Appellation:
not specified
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Drink By:
2019 |
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Bottle Size:
75cl
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Region:
Tikves |
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Colour:
Still Red |
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Food:
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Tasting Notes:
Deeply coloured: to all intents and purposes opaque. Nice clarity and definition to the nose of pure black plum fresh fruit. There’s a distinct chocolate earthiness here, a bit like cocoa powder and I suspect this is the oak treatment. Palate is fresh and quite linear. There are very fine nutty tannins held within, that start from near the front of the palate. A long wine that develops a mild but purposeful grip. Nicely controlled, with a minerality to both acidity and tannin components of the wine’s structure. Dark, fresh and very pleasant indeed.
#3wordtastingnote: cocoa, deep, long
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