Weekly Wine Review - Macedonian Red - 2011 Tikves Vranec Special Selection

Quick quiz - where is Macedonia located? My education through the years did not leave me with a lot of geographical knowledge and in fact I have learned more since I've started learning about wine than all my years in school.  Meeting some friends for dinner one night at a great little spot in Tempe, AZ right near to Arizona State University (Go Devils!) called House of Tricks.  Our dining companions had already selected a bottle of wine with our server's assistance.  How cool!  A wine from Macedonia, a country that Google would later inform me was located just north of Greece. Also, a grape variety I had never even heard of before - Vranec, which is (shout out again to Google) a native Macedonian variety.

Wine: 2011 Tikves Vranec Special Selection

Region: Tikves, Macedonia
Grape Varieties: Vranec

Obtained from: Enjoyed at House of Tricks Restaurant in Tempe, AZ

Price: $30 - Restaurant Price, Estimated at $12 - $15 Retail

Wino4Life Category: Everyday Wine (at Retail Price)

Aeration before tasting: Just a swirl or two, no special aeration.

Cork Condition: Natural cork - no defects or issues.

Appearance: Wine was dark red with a pinkish rim - looking very much like a Rioja.

Aroma: Red fruit - raspberries and cherries along with a bit of spice and a bit herbal as well.

Taste: Straightforward and nicely fruity, not much impact from oak aging.

The Grade: I give this one a B+.  A very good wine to sip and enjoy, or to enjoy with a meal. Not at all complex, but that is part of the beauty of a wine like this one. I would highly encourage you to try a Vranec if you come across one. If it can make a really nice wine in the Everyday Wine category - I am intrigued by what the grape could do in a more complex wine that would see some time in newer oak barrels and some additional aging time.  I look forward to trying more - but for now you can put me down as a new Vranec fan!