Finnish wine bloggers unite - the mystery bottle challenge

It is a mystery!

Thanks to Vindirekt, a Finnish wine importer, each of us wine bloggers received a mystery wine bottle for blind tasting challenge. We all agreed to post the blog article on this mystery wine at the same time - on 8th of December at 23.59 GMT +2. This way none of our opinions would have an impact on the other bloggers, and objectivity of the reviews and tasting notes would be retained.

Even though the bottle labels had already been removed, the importer kindly advised us to use an assistant for uncorking of the bottle, so that the cork wouldn’t give away any information regarding the wine’s identity. In a few days from posting the mystery wine reviews we will be informed of the identity of the wine, and we will post it on our blogs. What an intriguing challenge... Challenge accepted!

Blind tasting isn’t easy - getting the identity of a wine right requires a vast amount of tasting experience, and still, it might go sideways. Personally, I find wine’s aromas to be the most fascinating aspect in the world of wine - learning to identify aromas while tasting, understanding how they are created in the wine making process, and understanding the aromas as a reflection of the climate and the terroir are all at the core of my passion. Since this time I’m not able to illuminate the background of this wine (as I know nothing about it), instead I’ll write the aromatic and structural observations I make as thoroughly as possible and this way do my best to communicate the logic behind my conclusions. It might all go horribly wrong, and then I’ll learn from it! So, dear readers, you are most welcome to join this blind tasting bungee jump to follow.

Notes of the blind tasting.

Wine review

4 of 5 stars

A very good wine

There is a blue tint to the deep, ruby red colour of this wine. However, there is still enough red to call it ruby red, not quite purple. This colour already steers my thoughts essentially away from Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo, towards varieties with thick skins giving plenty of colour and extracts. Also, the blue tone points towards a somewhat young wine.

Aromatically, the nose of medium plus intensity is fruit driven with plenty of dark ripe fruit.  Black cherries, plums, blackcurrant juice and blackberry are accompanied by plenty of oak influence and sweet vanilla spice. Also, there are clear liquorice notes and an evident presence of black pepper followed by slight herbal elements. Leathery and sweaty animal notes add complexity to this wine, but they are rather restrained in intensity.

Based on the nose only, I’d say this wine is developing. Due to the ripe, fruit driven nature, bold use of oak and sweet nature of oak spices (American oak?), I tend to place this wine in the New World. In all honesty, I make a small round trip of Southern France in my mind for exclusion, but in the end I conclude that this oak usage doesn’t point towards France.

The peppery spice is a characteristic of a few black international varieties with high concentration of rontundone compound. Grenache is one of them, however, it tends to give red fruit flavours and a more white pepper nuanced spiciness to the wine. Shiraz, on the other hand, is well known for its black pepper character. Cabernet Sauvignon typically displays black currant notes, as is the case with this mystery wine, but other CS typical characteristics such as high acidity, astringency of tannin and herbal notes of mint and eucalyptus are lacking. However, it might be that there is some CS present as a blending component in this wine.

Structurally, this wine is rather soft, round and mouth filling on the palate, with medium acidity and plenty (medium plus to high) of alcohol. Tannin quality of this wine is ripe. Hence, it is challenging to evaluate whether there is a high or only medium plus amount of very fine grained, soft tannin present. In the end, I decide to settle for medium plus tannin as the drying in the mouth is only medium after spitting, and the body of the wine only approaches full body. The peppery character of the wine is a slight confounding factor, as it is difficult to evaluate what proportion of the tickle and burning sensation in the finish is due to rotundone and what part of it is due to high alcohol. Nevertheless, the plentiful alcohol feels well integrated on the palate. Overall, this wine is in good balance due to its abundant fruit and sturdy enough acid structure. Flavourwise, the palate is very fruity, dominated by black fruit, sweet oak spice, leather and black pepper. The finish is peppery and fruity with blackberry notes, and these pleasant aromas linger for at least a good medium length while.

From this tasting process, I’m inclined to draw the following conclusions:

1. New World (bold use of oak, sweet vanilla, fruit driven, concentrated, ripe fruit, even some stewed fruit character)

2. Not necessarily the hottest of New World Climates. The style is rather black peppery, there are even herbs, the fruit isn’t completely cooked or jammy. Cooler parts of Australia? Chile’s Casablanca or San Antonio? New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay?

3. Animalistic and earthy elements. Certain areas, such as Barossa in Australia, are well known of their Brett influenced, sweaty, high quality Shiraz wines. But is this animal/leather/sweat influence in this wine too restrained for Barossa Shiraz?

4. Shiraz. Dark fruit, black pepper, liquorice and leather. Almost full body, high alcohol. I’m going for Shiraz. It might be that there is some CS in this wine (currant), but the black fruit might be also due to Shiraz solely.

Conclusion

Because I have to say something, I say: Shiraz from Chile 2013. However, I leave an option open for cooler climate South Australian or Victoria Shiraz wines.

This wine is well made and is of high quality, although the finish could be longer. It can drink now, but I’d say it has aging potential.

Now all we can do is sit tight and wait for the exciting truth! I’ll be back soon with the identity of the wine. Tremolo!

For Finnish speaking wine lovers, you can find the reviews of the mystery wine also on the following wine blogs:
Rypäleistä viis
Copatinto
Viiniministeri

Loppasuut

Viinihullun päiväkirja

Viinikartta

Pullonhenki

Blanc de Blancs

Wineserver

Veni Vidi Viini