2023 Logodaj Winery Melnik 55

There are two known clones of the Melnik grape – Broad Leaved Melnik Vine and Early Melnik Grape (an early-ripening variety developed in the 1960s). The Melnik grape is named after the eponymous town in southwestern Bulgaria, the smallest in the country with only a few dozen inhabitants. Melnik itself is said to have been Winston Churchill's favorite wine grape. Logodaj Winery specializes in this indigenous and very old grape. The grapes are hand-harvested, and the Melnik 55 has been aged for 12 months in oak barriques.

In the glass, the Melnik 55 Early Melnik Grape has a dark ruby red color. The nose reveals notes of dark fruit like blackcurrant and cherry, complemented by sweet spice and elegant vanilla, along with a hint of cedar and leather. On the palate, the wine has a soft, velvety, and rounded fruity flavor with balanced structure and smoothness. The wine has a long and memorable finish.

This is another example of fantastic value for money, as it's a truly beautiful wine and was a finalist at Perswijn for good reason.

VERY GOOD - Finalist Perswijn Wine Competition Autumn & Winter

“dark and firm, blackberries, red berries, cherries, liquorice, chocolate, tasty and intense, good structure”

ABOUT MELNIK GRAPE

Melnik is a late-ripening grape variety, grown exclusively in Bulgaria in small quantities. The young wines are distinguished by their rich cherry color, intense aroma dominated by cherry notes, sufficient depth, and characteristic, spicy astringency. They develop very well in contact with oak. Mature wines made from Melnik grapes are distinguished by a rich, complex aroma with interesting notes of tobacco and leather. The palate is characterized by preserved freshness and a soft astringency. Melnik itself is said to have been Winston Churchill's favorite wine grape.

ABOUT LOGODAJ WINERY

Logodaj Winery is a well-known wine producer in Bulgaria, founded in 1994 by three friends in the Struma Valley, part of the Thracian Lowlands, near the Macedonian and Greek borders. The winery is located in one of the warmest and sunniest parts of Bulgaria, where winemaking has a centuries-old history. The winemakers' craftsmanship has been recognized and admired for years.
Today, Logodaj is a modern winery, supported by an ambitious team. In its pursuit of quality, Logodaj Winery sought the advice of an experienced winemaker from a more established region. The winery is proud to work under the guidance and supervision of world-renowned oenologist Riccardo Cotarrela, strictly adhering to his style and innovative technologies. Since 2011, Cotarrela and his team have overseen the estate's viticulture and winemaking.

The vineyards are located in a region steeped in history and wine-making traditions – in the middle of the Petrich-Sandanski Valley, between the characteristic town of Melnik and the recently discovered ancient city of Heraclea Sintica.
Near the vineyards, you'll find the medieval rock monastery of St. Panteleimon, believed to be associated with the earliest period of the hermitage of St. Ivan Rilski. West of the vineyards, across the Struma River, lies Kozhuh Hill – a remnant of an extinct volcano. Also near the vineyards is the well-known village of Rupite, where the church of St. Petka was built by the prophetess Vanga.