01 July 2009
Exquisite Wine at The Bristol Wine & Food Fair 2009

Missed the Taste of London show? Ahead of us we have the Bristol Wine and Food Fair (10-12 July 2009) right on the Lloyds waterfront, so why not leave the daily worries and global recession for a minute and plan a fabulous day out with friends and/or family to taste our wines with gourmet foods and cheeses from all over the world.
The Bristol Wine and Food Fair's site is minutes away from Bristol’s vibrant city centre, being easily accessible with good travel links and has two local multi-storey parking facilities, both within 100m of the event location.
We will be located at stand number B2 where you could taste a good selection of our wines and buy any of them by the glass, bottle or case and the best part of it all - IT WILL BE DELIVERED FREE OF CHARGE TO YOUR DOOR IF YOU LIVE IN BRISTOL AREA!

The three day Bristol Wine and Food Fair attracts quality wine exhibitors from around the world, and some of the best gourmet food producers from across the UK. Visitors can sample, discover and enjoy quality wine, dining and good food in the Wine & Cheese pavilions and Food & Drink Producer's Market.

Visitors can discover and learn from the experts during the Wine and cheese tastings. or join a Chef's Masterclass with Michelin starred UK Chefs, whilst kids can book for the Kid's Cookery School.

New features this year: Free Wine Tutorials, The Wine Tasting Forum, Childrens Activity Area during the day, Food & Wine Matching at the on-site restaurant, Additional Wine Marquee, and new covered Bar & Restaurant Seating Areas.

27 April 2009
Exquisite Wine at Taste of London 2009

It is a great pleasure to announce our involvement with the World's Greatest Restaurant Festival - Taste of London 2009.
Meet us for a wine tasting session at this sell out event in Regent’s Park from June 18-21.
For four full days, famous chefs from the capital’s best restaurants will be on hand to serve up their signature dishes and share their best kept kitchen secrets, while we will do the best to match their foods with our Exquisite Wines!
We will be located at stand number W15 where you could taste our wines for FREE as well as buy any of them by the glass to match your food.

As part of the show we will have our wines expertly matched with at least one of the London's Top restaurant dish, so get ready for the ultimate tasting experience.

28 March 2009
Wines of the Month, Decanter.com

'Each month the Decanter Magazine carries blind tastings from hundreds of wines and recommends just the best affordable wines to snap up and drink now.
Our Cricova Gratiesti 1990 has made it as the fortified of the month in May issue.

'One of the most intriguing wines we've had recently, this is fortified to 16% alcohol and made from Rkatsiteli grapes. It has and aged oloroso character, with sweet, raisined fruit following on from nutty caramel aromas. Another for your 'must-try' list. Drink now-2012.' Decanter Magazine, Volume 34 No8

27 March 2009
Independent enthusiasm for ASDW, Richard Hemming, JancisRobinson.com

'Rallying support for independent wine merchants (Fingal Rock's shop window in Monmouth is shown here) is a common thread amongst internet wine fora – and indeed, it is an admirable aim. They are, after all, supposed to be the heroes of wine retail, working with hand-selected wines with comparatively few resources but overwhelming passion.

It was fantastic to see the evidence to uphold such claims on display at yesterday’s tasting organised by the Association of Small Direct Winemerchants, a small co-op of traders who were uncorking their wares at The Atlas in Fulham to taste with press and public... read more' 
Below I reproduced with Jancis Robinson's permission the tasting notes of 3 out of 4 of our tasted wines:
Cricova, Collection Gratiesti 1990 Moldova 17+ Drink 2009
Sweet white, or rather bronze. Ripe and super preserved fruits. Luscious, with honey and fantastic nuts, caramel and burnt sugar complexity on the finish – it’s like Sauternes versus PX. 16% (RH)
£17.50 Exquisite Wine.
Cricova, Prestige Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Moldova 16 Drink 2009
Red. Very good – not your standard Ribena-berry, there is texture and woodiness and black fruit. Moderate in body but nicely toned. GV. 12% (RH) Pretty light. (JR)
£6.99 Exquisite Wine
Cricova, Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2990 Moldova 16- Drink 2009
Red. Chocolate, dried cherry and lovely spice and vegetal pong. The chocolate character is very marked on the palate, but maybe the green-ness is a little out of balance. 11% (RH) I think so. (JR)
£17.50 Exquisite Wine
To read the full story with tasting notes on all wines, please visit JancisRobinson.com website (subscribers only). www.JancisRobinson.com - updated daily and the only place you'll find all of the Oxford Companion to Wine and all of the World Atlas of Wine maps online.

07 March 2009
Exquisite Wine to take part in ASDW Annual Trade Tasting at Atlas in Fulham (25 March 2009)

Exquisite Wine is to take part in this year's annual trade tasting organised by ASDW at the end of this month.

The ASDW, The Association of Small Direct Wine-Merchants, will be holding its annual tasting on 25th March 2009 once again at the Atlas in Fulham, for press, trade, and invited private clients, with over 100 great wines to taste.

One of the invited members of the press, Tim Atkin, wine critic of The Observer Magazine, was the first to write a piece on the inaugural event:

"When the email arrived, I wasn't sure what to make of an invitation from the Association of Small Direct Wine Merchants. Had a group of vertically challenged importers banded together to stand on each other's shoulders like some vinous circus act? Or were they just referring to the diminutive size of their businesses when set alongside mail-order giants like Laithwaites and The Wine Society?

25 February 2009
PR, Cricova Collection Aged Desert Wine tasting at Country Living Spring Fair 2009 with Almondy Tart

Following the great success of our desert wine tasting at WIne+ trade event, we are delighted to present Cricova Colection Aged (1986-2005) Wines at the Country Living Spring Fair 2009. Never before available in the UK, they represent the absolute best of Moldova wine-making and gems such as Dionis 1992 or Cabernet 1990 have already surprised the hard to please wine critics, making it an excellent combination for game and other exquisite dishes.

To celebrate the event, we are pleased to announce a Desert wine tasting at 15:30 between 11th and 15th of March at the Country Living Spring Fair 2009

Matched with Almondy Tart will be served Gratiesti 1990 Desert Wine, described by Tom Cannavan as 'an alluring aroma of sultanas, walnuts and leaf tea, with little nuances of honey and coffee. On the palate it is quite sweet, with a nice, medium-bodied freshness and plenty of lemon and orange acidity to lift it, whilst those soft, developed flavours of dried fruit, figs and honey build on the mid-palate.'

Come and join us for the ultimate 'nutty, raisin-fruity' experience, a match made in heaven!

14 February 2009
Exquisite Wine has been accepted as a member of the Association of Small Direct Wine Merchants

It is a pleasure to announce our attribution to the ASDW - Association of Small Direct Wine Merchants.
The Association of Small Direct Wine-Merchants (ASDW) was formed, as the name implies, by a group of British independent small wine merchants directly selling to the general public via mail order and the internet.

There are currently around 20 members each of which is passionate and knowledgeable about wine. We offer customers a specifically selected, interesting and often exclusive range of wines at very reasonable prices.

The British public are well served by supermarkets at the lower end (sub £5) of the price range but it is becoming increasingly more difficult to find quality wines as big brand names dominate high street shops and supermarkets.
If you would like to learn more about our members, please visit the Members' Page which provides a brief overview of all ASDW members.

12 February 2009
Tom Cannavan, WINE-pages.com shares the treasures of Cricova with tasting notes on 6 wines

Tom Cannavan, one of the best known wine critics and writter of wine-pages.com has published tasting notes and impressions of 6 Cricova wines
'marking the Gratiesti with 91/100 points!
Cricova Collection Gratiesti Nectar 1990
This is a wine made using a method similar to making Port, with spirit added to wine that has partially fermented, whilst there is still plenty of sugar remaining. Made from Rkatsiteli, it pours a tawny colour and has an alluring aroma of sultanas, walnuts and leaf tea, with little nuances of honey and coffee. On the palate it is quite sweet, with a nice, medium-bodied freshness and plenty of lemon and orange acidity to lift it, whilst those soft, developed flavours of dried fruit, figs and honey build on the mid-palate. The finish shows a little spirity heat, but it is entirely in context and works beautifully in this wine. At £17.50 for a full 70cl bottle, a bargain for a mature and elegant wine such as this. 91/100.

 Read the full story at wine-pages.com

02 February 2009
PR, Exquisite Wine is the official Wine Sponsor for the Surface Design Show 2009, Islington Business Centre 10-12 February

It is a pleasure to announce our partnership with The Surface Design Anual Show 2009 and having Cricova Prestige Collection Cabernet 2005 as their wine of choice for the event!

The Surface Design Show is the only UK event to focus exclusively on interior and exterior surface solutions in building design.
The show allows thousands of architects, interior designers and building specifiers to get within touching distance of hundreds of the most innovative, creative and inspirational surface products.


Vadim Chobanu
Managing Director
Exquisite Wine LTD

22 January 2009
PR, Cricova Collection Aged Desert Wines tasting at Wine+ with Nutty Tart

We are delighted to present Cricova Colection Aged (1986-2005) Wines at the Wine+. Never before available in the UK, they represent the absolute best of Moldova wine-making and gems such as Dionis 1992 have already surprised the hard to please wine critics, making it an excellent combination for game dishes.

To celebrate the event, we are pleased to announce an exquisite Desert wine tasting at 15:30 on the 3rd and 4th of February at London Olympia, Wine+

Matched with Almondy Tart will be served Gratiesti 1990 Desert Wine, referred to as a 'Warming, like a Tawny Port crossed with a sweet sherry, with nice complexity' by Jamie Goode, WineAnorak.com

Come and join us for the ultimate 'nutty, raisin-fruity' experience, a match made in heaven!

As we are actively looking to partner with quality restaurants and respectable establishments, take this opportunity to open an account and get free delivery with no minimum order!

Vadim Chobanu
Managing Director
Exquisite Wine LTD

18 January 2009
Jamie Goode tasting Moldovan Wine, Wineanorak.com

"I was recently sent three wines from Moldova to try: an aged red wine, an aged dessert wine and a more recent Chardonnay (2005). The Chardonnay was minerally but a bit flat and showing some traces of oxidation, but the two older wines were of real interest.

They come from Cricova, a company famous for its amazing underground cellars..." Visit Jamie Goode wine blog to read the full story

15 December 2008
Russian London Magazine Press Coverage

Exquisite Wine LTD - Just the best Vintage Moldavian Wines available now in the UK!
We are pleased to announce the launch of Exquisite Wine LTD – the Exclusive UK Importer and Distributor of Cricova Wines – best wines from Moldova.

Available in stock for UK wide delivery are Vintage wines starting from 1986 to 2005, including the Vintage Cricova Cellar Aged 1987 Cahor and the excellent Vintage dry 1993 Cabernet that is set to please the most demanding wine connoisseur. To celebrate this event, Exquisite Wine LTD are offering a free mainland delivery service for all Russian London visitors until 18th of December...

15 December 2008
Harpers Magazine - News Release

A new UK company has been set up to promote the wines of Moldovan producer Cricova.
Exquisite Wine is headed by Moldovan graduate Vadim Chobanu, who previously worked in the computer business in the UK.

His company is importing 10 wines including 2005 oak-aged Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, both with a guide retail price of around £7.99.

The company will also be competing further up the price ladder with wines including a 1995 Pinot Noir/Cabernet blend under the name Codru, which will retail at around the £15 mark.
“Nothing big has happened with Moldovan wine so far,” said Chobanu, “but I hope we can change that.

"Cricova has one of the biggest cellars in the world, 60km long and full of wine, and it would be a shame if the UK could not have access to it.

1 December 2008
Exquisite Wine Website Launch!

Finally it happened! We have been working hard for the past 3 months to launch what we have today a state of the art portal and webshop for the best Moldavian Wines - Cricova Cellar and Prestige Collection Wines exclussivelly imported and distributed by Exquisite Wine LTD.