| | Decided to see how these powerful wines mature.
All wines double decanted an hour before.
Enjoyed with different locas produce tapas. - 2007 Santa Sarah Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 40 - Bulgaria, Thracian Valley
This was immediately accessible, smooth with melted tannins, blueberries and coffee plus some tertiary aromas. (91 pts.)
- 2009 Ivo Varbanov Syrah Ondine - Bulgaria, Thracian Valley
Massive tannins when opened, melted with time and air, surprised to see some green spices components in the mouth, less expressive than the other bottles, if not slightly muted. (89 pts.)
- 2009 Castra Rubra Butterfly's Rock - Bulgaria, Thracian Valley, Harmanli
Most Powerful when opened, bursting with fruit and some oaky spices, later with time the wine developed fantastic, smoothen out and iodine notes emerge to transform it purely into the WOTN.
Looking at my other notes on this wine, who would've thought? (93 pts.)
- 2008 Santa Sarah Privat Mavrud & Cabernet Sauvignon - Bulgaria, Thracian Valley
Privat showed nice again, lean muscular body, no fat, nice blubbery from the CS, tannins solid but accessible, this need to age further. (91 pts.)
- 2010 Midalidare Estate Malbec Grand Vintage - Bulgaria, Thracian Valley
This Malbec is phenomenal straight after opening, winning everyone at first (just to become second in the end). Lovely green component mixed with succulent dark fruits, with depth to 3D level. Medium bodied, friendly tannins. So easy to be liked.
One might say it has no structure, but for me charming all over. (93 pts.)
- 2009 Villa yustina Monogram Mavrud & Rubin - Bulgaria, Thracian Valley
Not as expressive as my last bottle, smooth, easy to drink, just failed against the boldness of the other wines which did not help for the right assessment.
- 2013 Vinex Preslav Chardonnay Rubaiyat - Bulgaria, Thracian Valley
I can just say wow, my best Rub. to date, so clean and precise, mineral and alive, to the standards of the best Chablis premier crus. Totally unexpected. (93 pts.)
All showed well, maybe Monogram only was a bit behind.
Rubayt Chardonnay - for me steal the show.
Butterfly's Rock - with its great improvement was another nice surprise.
This was great fun - to be continued... |
