Winemaker Notes
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Moldova is a tiny country between Romania and Ukraine. Though it was geographically the smallest state of the former Soviet Union, it had the second largest area under vine only after Ukraine, its large northeastern neighbor, and was Russia’s largest source of wine through much of the 20th century. Petrified grape seeds and amphorae dating to 2,800 BC have been discovered in Moldova, proving it to be one of the world’s oldest producers of wine. White wine comprises a little over two thirds of production; imported European varieties are most prevalent for both white and red wine.