Wine "Massandra Cabernet" dry red: reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Cabernet is called the king of wines. The most popular wine is produced all over the world, but only those who have tried the Crimean "Cabernet Massandra" know what real quality is.

Crimea is a fertile land for winemaking

As soon as the ancient Greeks landed on the northern shores of Pontus Euxinus, that is, in the Crimea, they saw that this land was extremely similar to their homeland. The Greeks began to grow excellent grapes on the Crimean sunny plantations and make wine from it, which was successfully sold even to the Metropolis. It happened more than 2500 years ago, and since then Crimea and wine have been inseparable.

From the history of Massandra Cabernet

Today the Massandra winery is known all over the world, and its products have been awarded many medals, grand prix cups and super grand prix.

The history of the plant dates back to the 19th century, when Count Mikhail Vorontsov ordered to improve the estate in Alupka and plant, according to the European tradition, vineyards.

Then the estate was bought into the imperial treasury. Made winesbegan to arrive at the royal table, and in order to increase the prestige of local products, they invited the already well-known winemaker Prince Lev Golitsyn by that time. He did not become modest and equipped a high-tech plant and storage facilities with a total length of 7 km for 1 million rubles. Today it is not only a plant, but also 4 thousand hectares of constantly updated vineyards, located from Sudak to Foros, several branches, many branded stores, including in Moscow.

Massandra produces about 60 brands of wine, Cabernet is one of the best among them. In total, about 10 million bottles are bottled at the plant annually.

Wine Characteristics

The drink belongs to the category of still wines. The winery "Massandra" produces dry red Cabernet in 3 varieties:

• ordinary;
• vintage;
• Export Collection Cabernet.

Ordinary is produced according to the classical technology adopted in the world: a mixture of pre-crushed berries is fermented. Only local grapes of the Cabernet Sauvignon variety are used, grown on the plant's own plantations on the southern coast of Crimea. Sugar content - no more than 3 g/l. The amount of alcohol is 9.5-13%. Ordinary wine is very tart due to the high content of grape seeds and skins in raw materials.

Vintage is created from a blend of quality grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Tsimlyanskoe. This wine must be aged in oak barrels for 2 years, due to which it acquires a noble fruity aroma and taste, which is revealed gradually. Alcohol content - 11%.

The wine, intended for export and produced with the label Export Collection Cabernet, has an alcohol content of 13%, the taste is delicate, persistent, velvety. The photo shows the wine "Cabernet Massandra" in the export version.

Taste

Tasters do not get tired of finding beautiful epithets, describing the taste of an exquisite drink.

Dry "Cabernet Massandra" pleases with a rich and varied taste with a long and pleasant aftertaste.

The taste palette allows you to feel fruit and berry shades first. In the first glass, saturation is felt, the average level of astringency, but not the density of the drink. In the future, the taste of the wine becomes smoother, softer, richer, rounder.

The aftertaste is persistent, astringency increases.

The taste is better when the wine is allowed to sit in the glass for a few minutes.

Young wine has harsh flavors, aged Cabernet is calmer.

The beauty of color

Wine is usually stored in dark glass bottles to preserve its color. But in a transparent glass, the rich color palette of the noble drink is immediately visible, confirming its authenticity and difference from its powder counterpart.

If you raise your glass to the light, it is easy to see: "Cabernet Massandra" shimmers with dark red, ruby tones with a transition to garnet color. Professionals even note the presence of purple and golden colors.

This rich color in wine appears due todark purple grape skins used in the fermentation process.

Fragrance

Wine "Cabernet Massandra" is one of the brightest in aroma. The original bouquet does not allow you to confuse this wine with some other.

Ordinary Cabernet gives off a slight smell of dressed leather. Vintage envelops with a delicate aroma of blackcurrant, diluted with the smell of young cedar. Notes of green pepper are always present in a noble drink, depending on the grape harvest, there may be aromas of violet, cherry, blackberry, blueberry.

It should be taken into account that the counterfeit, which has not been aged in oak barrels, smells of alcohol additives that are not required for real grape wine.

How not to make a mistake when buying a real "Cabernet Massandra"?

There are drinks that scammers are extremely fond of counterfeiting, and cabernet is one of them. By producing excellent wines, the Massandra factory strives to protect its reputation by developing a number of protective measures.

Any consumer can check what kind of bottle he is holding in his hands. What is the difference between branded bottles that contain branded "Cabernet Massandra"?

1. The bottle itself. Volume - always 0.75. Made of dark glass. The letter "M" is embossed on the concave bottom.
2. Cork. Made from natural cork wood, which is purchased in Portugal. On one or both sides, the cork is imprinted with 1894 - the year the factory was founded.
3. The cork is sealed with shrink film. On the film, the brand of wine and the date of bottling are marked with an abbreviation.
4. Label printed on textured paper, background color varies for different wines. The label center is printed with the main factory building and the name of the wine brand. The bottling date is printed above the plant image. The full name of the enterprise with a gold stylized stamp is written on the top of the label with a “cap”.
5. Back label. Designed in the same style as the label, on the same paper. Above is the inscription "Massandra" and the name of the wine.

Certainly, buying wine from a reputable shop, speci alty boutique or directly from the factory is the best way to avoid counterfeiting.

Useful properties of Cabernet

In the 1960s, doctors discovered that Cabernet was a very he althy drink. Wine was introduced into the diet of submariners and polar explorers. It turned out that a small amount of dry red wine can lower cholesterol levels and, due to the high content of tannins, helps to remove various toxins from the body, including radionuclides.

In the 1970s, Cabernet was a strategic material that could not be exported.

A few tips on how to drink Cabernet the right way

Every wine requires compliance with certain rules when serving and choosing accompanying dishes. It is in this case that it will fully reveal its aroma and taste and give bliss.

Dry red wine "Cabernet Massandra",thanks to its acidity, it goes well with a variety of meat dishes, including rather fatty ones:

• fried meat (beef, pork, lamb);
• cutlets;
• chops;
• bird;
• grilled meat and kebab;
• pasta;
• lasagna;
• pizza;
• pilaf;
• all kinds of cheeses;
• nuts.

At the table, Cabernet is served with main courses. The optimum temperature for dry red wine does not exceed +18^o, in summer it is customary to cool the wine to +14^{o. Refrigerate wine. An open bottle should stand for 10-15 minutes so that the wine begins to “breathe” - evaporate, the wine aroma intensifies.}

For Cabernet, use straight-walled or tapering glasses. The glass of the glass must be transparent so that the color of the beautiful drink can be seen without interference.

Pour the wine up to half the glass, leaving room for the aroma.

Smoking while drinking Cabernet is not worth it - the smell of tobacco kills the wine taste and aroma.

Reviews from amateurs and professionals

Vacationers in the Crimea do not miss the opportunity to enjoy the unsurpassed taste of real Cabernet. This can be done by purchasing wine in Massandra's branded stores or at tastings that take place after a tour of the halls and storage facilities of the factory. Many people bring Massandra Cabernet with them from their holidays, reviews of which are left on the winery's website and in the wish book.

The company regularly participates invarious exhibitions, receiving prizes and medals for their products. Professional tasters also appreciate the excellent quality of Cabernet, designed to be enjoyed and relaxed.