Not often that we drink Moldovan wine. Long and tasty, we scratch our heads to understand how we manage to do so good at such a low price.

Located in the south-east of Moldova, in the heart of the village of Olanesti, the 24-hectare vineyard is run biodynamically. One of the co-owners would be Quebecois. You can not make that up! What is certain is that there is a lot of wine in the bottle. It is a blend dominated by Cabernet-Sauvignon complemented by Malbec. Vinified and aged both in stainless steel vats and in concrete amphora, the wine expresses itself quickly in the glass. It reveals catchy scents of fig, strawberry, plum, grass and a touch of smoke. On the palate, the wine has body. We guess a generous body, almost velvety articulated around medium-bodied tannins. It deserves three stars! Serve around 16-17°C with summer grilling on the BBQ.

Pelican Negru, Soft Red Blend 2017, Stefan Voda, Moldavie 15,00 $ – Code SAQ 14043634 – 13,5 % – 3,2 g/L

★★★ $1⁄2

★ Correct

★★ Good

★★★ Very good

★★★★ Excellent

★★★★★ Outstanding

More stars than dollars: well worth the price.

As many stars as dollars: worth its price.

Fewer stars than dollars: wine is expensive.