Logodaj Winery Melnik 55 Reserve

Logodaj Winery, establish in 1994, is located in the very heart of the beautiful valley along the Struma River in South Western Bulgaria. Their vineyards are situated next to the village of General Todorov, in the middle of the Petrich-Sandanski valley, between the town of Melnik and the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica. Their practices are directed by the nature of each vintage, hand-harvesting only when the grapes are fully ripe, the grapes of the individual vineyards fermented separately in respect and emphasis of the unique terroir.

Melnik 55,

Made from 100% Melnik 55 (also known as Early Melnik Vine), the signature red local indigenous grape
variety of Struma Valley, and also a favourite of Sir Winston Churchill who had a regular annual shipment of Melnik red wines to the cellar at 10 Downing street.

Melnik is an increasingly rare, dark-hued variety grown in the southwest of Bulgaria, near the border with Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia. It is named after the town of Melnik where it is exclusively grown in the controliran (appellation) of Harsovo in the Struma Valley.

Melnik can produce powerful wines that respond well to extended maturation in oak and often have notes of tobacco and leather. They tend to be exotically perfumed, richly textured and have ample tannins.

The harvest begins in early October when the grapes reach optimal technological maturity. The grapes are hand-picked in boxes from controlled-yield vineyards. Upon arrival at the cellar, a double sorting is carried out on sorting tables - once on the grapes, and after separation of the bunches, on the grapes. Maceration and vigorous fermentation take place in new French oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation and aging for 24 months take place in 225-liter French oak barriques. After bottling, the wine ages for another 3 months before being released on the market.

Medium to full body with a deep ruby ​​red colour with elegant violet nuances. The aroma is complex and expressive with notes of ripe red fruits, black cherry, blueberry, delicate vanilla nuance and spicy accents.

Great with Turksish cuisine and stands up nicely to a bit of spice.