Best of Romania: Carassia Classic Brut Magnum

The Chardonnay–Pinot Noir blend by Carastelec Winery has won one of the 8 Grand Gold medals of the contest, and with 95 points it has been named the Best of Romania at the 4th edition of Winelovers Wine Awards.
 

Altogether 23 Romanian wines were judged at the contest, the Transylvanian Carastelec won two medals, the above-mentioned Grand Gold and a silver medal for Carassia Rosé Brut method traditional sparkling wine.
Carastelec is a relatively young winery (built in 2011) with numerous international accolades, among others gold and silver medals from the annual Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championship founded by Tom Stevenson of the United Kingdom.
 
Carassia – only fine bubbles
Carastelec Sparkling Winery is the first investment in Romania aimed at producing mostly sparkling and semi-sparkling wines. It is located in Crișana Region, which is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in Transylvania, close to Măgura Şimleului Mountain which is a crystalline island in North West Transylvania. CARASTELEC Village / northern Transylvania / Crisana wine region has all the primary conditions for producing an excellent sparkling wine: moderate continental climate and high diurnal range in the ripening period. The 22-hectare south-faced vineyard planted in 2011 sits on clay-rich soil and was built from the ground up for sparkling winemaking and it is managed from pruning to harvest according to it.
This “natural amphitheatre” near the village, on the top of a slope, is a real “treasure” hill with a specific microclimate chosen by Tibor Gál, one of Hungary’s leading oenologists, years ago. As with the selection of the site, all decisions have been and continue to be taken with the same thoroughness every day and always the aim of obtaining high-quality sparkling wines.

The Grand Gold awarded magnum

Carassia Classic Brut Magnum, the Grand Gold winner
The traditional method sparkling wine is made of 65% Chardonnay and 35% Pinot Noir and it was aged on the lees for 36 bottles, it has a dosage of 8 g/L. "This classic assemblage of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is all about elegance, finesse, and brightness, a subtle combination of complexity, length and freshness. Elegant with nice complexity and soft mousse. Ripe appley nose with straw notes, nice toastiness. Full body towards being winey. Its texture is seductive, round and well-balanced, with velvety bubbles and a long, straightforward aftertaste."
See technical sheet here

 

Carassia Rose Brut, the other medal winner (silver)