By Veronika Wills
This wine is a lesson on different expressions of velvet. Garnet velvet in the color, velvet on the nose, velvet on the palate. It does not get any better than this. Correction, it will continue to get better with age – this is a sophisticated red Cuvee, worth wine connoisseur’s attention, yet understandable to the wide public.
The creation of this Cuvee was not accidental. This is Frantisek’s interim deliberate departure from varietal wines typically being produced in the Czech wineries. It showcases Frantisek’s oenological skills in creating a Cuvee that checks off all the expectations of the American wine lover while staying true to the signature of its motherland. Yes, my fellow Americans, this wine was made for you!
While Frantisek is an adventurous traveler, though, for many years, he remained tied to the Central European soil. Primarily because of building the family winery, which he felt compelled to give his entire time, including his vacation. Life in the vineyards and winery never stops. However, he did make one exception and along with Maruska, his devoted wife visited his family on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. As a true winemaker, he continue to work even while on vacation and delivered many guided wine tastings for his friends and family, using a range of various styles and types of wines. And while at that, he quietly took mental notes of what the typical American consumer tends to gravitate towards. Then back in his winery, he curated a limited size batch of Moravian Red, which has since become a flagship wine of the Moravian Series wines by Spevak Winery.
Moravian Red, a Cuvee of three popular grape varieties grown in Moravia.
Moravian Red, a Cuvee of three popular grape varieties grown in Moravia (similarly to Bordeaux wines), is a fine example that even a Northerly location (49th latitude) can produce ripe, complex wines with French finesse. The winning combination here is Cabernet Cortis (an offspring of Cabernet Sauvignon), Merlot, and Dornfelder. The detailed history and profile of Cabernet Cortis was described in detail here and while Merlot does not need any introductions, Dornfelder is a grape variety that is making its debut on the international markets and thus deserves to be in the spotlight in this article.
The winning combination here is Cabernet Cortis, Merlot, & Dornfelder.
Dornfelder is a crossing of Helfensteiner x Heroldrebe bred in Germany in the 50s. Red wines produced in northerly regions tend to be lighter in color and body, higher in tannins than those closer to the 30th latitude.
Dornfelder is an example of a successful breeding program as the new grapes are known for their incredibly deep garnet color, without the extraction of tannins, yet with a beautiful aroma of black cherries.
In addition, Dornfelder is early ripening and together with improved resistance towards fungal diseases is a great candidate for sustainable farming, which is of the utmost importance for Spevak winery.
Frantisek discovered and planted Dornfelder shortly around the time when it was officially recognized in the state register of grape varieties (in 2004) and has become one of the first pioneers promoting this beautiful and promising variety. And he never looked back.
A fun fact: Dornfelder is one of a few varieties that are referred to as teinturier grapes (their color and phenolics are not only contained within the skins but also the pulp of the grape).
All hand-picked and hand-sorted, Dornfelder leaves an unmistakable mark.
What does Dornfelder contribute to Moravian Red? The liveliness of black cherries and the color of deep garnet. Cabernet Cortis contributes the black fruits and bramble and Merlot (30%) delivers smooth tannins in flowy and velvety streams building the structure and connecting the wine.
The textbook description of Moravian Red is a wine with deep garnet color, dry with high alcohol, medium + tannins, and medium + acidity, full-body, and a long finish aged in new French oak barrels for 15 months before bottling and release. That description is however kind of dry and nowhere close to capturing its structure and profile. The way we would describe this red beauty in a glass is: Breathtakingly complex, yet balanced. Layers of primary wild black fruit, bramble, and black cherry aromas are underscored by the tertiary bites of chocolate and hints of vanilla. The most pleasant lasting finish will leave you longing for more.
This is a developing wine with strong aging potential. Limited batch size.
Buy now, enjoy now, and much later as well.
All hand-picked and hand-sorted, Dornfelder leaves an unmistakable mark.
Compared against vintage Grand Cru Classes Bordeaux during blind tastings, Moravian Red comes unmatched in quality, structure, and body, for a fraction of the cost. Discover Moravia and its Moravian Red, discover what these emerging wines have to offer.
Moravian Red by Spevak Winery 
In the follow-up article, we will uncover some unique Moravian Red and food pairing! Stay tuned!
Na zdravi!
Technical data:
14% ABV, acidity 4.2 g/L, residual sugar 2.1 g/L
