2020 Midalidare Estate Silver Angel Sauvignon Blanc

The Silver Angel is a sur lie matured wine from Midalidare Estate. This wine company is making great strides and is one of the top Bulgarians. Midalidare Estate is a boutique style Bulgarian winery per excellence, nestled in the Sredna Gora Mountains at a distance of 20 km northeast of the town of Chirpan in the village of Mogilovo. Midalidare Estate is located in a wine region with a millennial tradition in winemaking. Since early antiquity, the wines made there were brought by caravans to Piraeus and Aenus. The complete dedication of the team over the years makes Midalidare Estate the new star on the Bulgarian wine horizon. The cellar's oenologists are Nikolay Katerov and Aleksander Aleksiev, both with years of experience in Bulgaria and abroad. They have gained their experience in Australia and New Zealand from which their love for the Sauvignon Blanc comes, and in Argentina, the source of their passion for the Malbec and then the team is also reinforced with Rayan Gibbons, the Californian oenologist with his considerable experience in New Zealand, France and California - so a very international and experienced team.

Silver Angel is a charming blend of traditional and modern Sauvignon Blanc winemaking. Fresh and seductive wine with its own character. A classic Sauvignon Blanc, broken through the lens of modern concepts. Very similar in style to the Sauvignon Blancs from the Alto Adige. In the glass, the Silver Angel is a bright straw yellow with greenish hints. In the nose beautiful fruity notes of ripe pear, melon and juicy lemon, complemented by elegant herbal notes of lemongrass, nettle and elderflower. In the mouth the wine is fresh and crisp with medium structure and excellent balance between acidity and body. The typical Sauvignon-blanc citrus and herbaceous notes dominate the palate, long and cooling finish, and a pleasant, fruity finish.

The vines are planted on the eastern hills of the Shipkata vineyard and on the northern plots of the Prisovete vineyard, at an average height of 290-360 meters above sea level and a slope of 10%. The soils are of alluvial origin and are characterized by the presence of clay and slime, with a high content of carbonates. These soils retain the water well and thus make the carbonates available to the plants. The unique microclimate of the Mogilovo area is characterized by large temperature amplitudes, northerly air currents from the wide valleys, mild winters, hot summers and an optimal ratio of sunshine and rainfall.

The vines are of French and Italian origin with an average age of 13 years. The design is single “vertical shoot positioning” (VSP or single guyot), the density is 5000 plants per hectare. The yield is controlled at 9-10 tons/ha. Regulation of production, for example, green pruning is made when the height of the shoots is 15-20 cm. Harvesting takes place in the early mornings in the first half of September. The grapes are picked by hand and transported in crates of 10-12 kg. After immediate cooling for 24 hours, the grapes are carefully double sorted by hand. First the whole bunches are sorted and then the second sorting of the grapes follows. The best selection of Sauvignon Blanc grapes are sent by gravity for soft pressing. A cold maceration takes place to allow the aromas of the skin to penetrate into the grape juice. The grapes are then gently pressed in stainless steel vats. After clarification for a few days, the yeasts are added after which slow fermentation starts at controlled temperature. After the fermentation has ended, the wine is cooled and kept on the lees for a certain period of time. Bâtonnage is carried out if necessary. Filtration, clarification and bottling follow.