Stone Castle, Gecaj Estate, Rahovec Valley (Kosovo) 2017

 Knowing beforehand that this wine was aged in new American and Hungarian oak, I worried that the wine might be too oaky.  Knowing that the vineyard had sat under the summer sun for 10-12 hours a day, my concern was that the wine’s flavors might skew too far in the direction of overripe sweet fruit, and perhaps too much alcohol.  Happily, all these concerns vanished the moment I tasted the wine.  The oak played its role as supporting actor perfectly, adding subtle heft to the wine’s overall flavor, texture and complexity.  The fruit flavors themselves were fresh and intricate, and the alcohol was unobtrusive.  As an aside, the design of the label on “Owner’s Choice" — featuring a drawing of an eagle holding (presenting?) a key — was singularly eye-catching, as are many Stone Castle labels.