Philip Cox is the man behind Cramele Recas, an incredibly smart, adept, market-sensitive Romanian winery. They sell 24 million bottles a year under a whopping 247 different labels, and they specialise in well-made affordable supermarket wines. But they also make some more premium offerings, and I got to try a few of these. Here are my notes.

Regno Recas Sauvignon Blanc 2018 Recas, Romania
12.5% alcohol. Youthful and primary with crisp, clean pear drop and citrus fruit. Very attractive clean fruity style, but not a lot of personality. It’s varietally true though. 87/100

Solo Quinta 2018 Recas, Romania
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Ottonel, Feteasca Regala. 13% alcohol. Aromatic and grapey, with rich table grape, mandarin, fennel and spice flavours. This has some richness, and a bit of tropical exoticism, but everything is kept in check by a nice citrus drive. Lots of flavour here. Dry but exotic and generous. 90/100 (£19 from Turton Wines in the UK)

Solevari Reserve Feteasca Regalia 2018 Recas, Romania
12% alcohol. This is really expressive: it’s grapey and floral, with some baked apple character and a fine spiciness. There’s some tangerine, too. Very fruity and grapey. Quite delicious. 90/100 (the Solevari wines are available in the UK from Virgin Wines at £11.99)

Solevari Reserve Feteasca Neagra 2018 Recas, Romania
13.5% alcohol. There’s a creamy edge to the floral fruity nose, and then the palate has direct, vivid raspberry and cherry fruit. There’s a slightly savoury, clove-like spicy edge to the fruit that reminds me a bit of staves, but the fruit quality is lovely. 89/100

Solevari Reserva Pinot Noir 2017 Recas, Romania
13.5% alcohol. Sweet, floral cherry and raspberry nose leads to a lush, smooth palate showing sweet berry fruits and hints of coffee, tar and cedar. Nice fruit, but the meaty, cedary savouriness intrudes a little. 88/100

Selene Merlot Reserva 2017 Recas, Romania
14.5% alcohol. Dense, ripe, chewy and spicy, with concentrated ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit, with a savoury, cedary edge. Rich and with lovely fruit, but the clove, cedar and coffee from the oak are a bit intrusive. And it is very rich and ripe. A really ambitious wine. 86/100 (Tanners carry the Cabernet Sauvignon at £16.30)

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