Wine Script

Châteauneuf du Papes 2006 by Armand Dartois

2011-04-10T08:01:00.000-07:00

We drunk this special French wine at a dinner with friends and chose it among many other fabulous wines in the wine collection of our host. I have to confess the choice was difficult, but this stylish bottle stand out. The other thing was my likeness to french wines.

The Châteauneuf du Papes by Armand Dartois, vintage 2006 is one of the best vintages of this wine. It comes from the southern Rhone region in France. The younger generation in Châteauneuf du Pape has taken seriously the farming in the vineyards. There are more organic and biodynamically run vineyards here than in any other appellation of France.

The sweet spot for drinking Châteauneuf du Papes is usually the first 5-6 years after the vintage. The has a long lasting finish and strong nose of berries and wild fruit, which makes the wine a pleasure for the senses. Very well balanced and very drinkable. The tannins was a bit too much, but overall - a great choice and a recommendation.

2008 Vranec Special Selection, Tikveš Winery, Republic of Macedonia

2011-04-03T08:39:00.000-07:00

I picked up this wine from the shelves of a supermarket in Skopje (Republic of Macedonia), where I was on a business trip recently. It was one of the most expensive ones available and it did prove to be a great wine! With a deep red colour and nose from black fruits, the Vranec has a very special character. The taste is well balanced and elegant and the finishing is long lasting with a tannins tint.

The Tikves wine region is the primary wine-prodicing region in Macedonia. Macedonia is a small country on the Balkans, generally populated with Bulgarians and Albanians. The winery was established some 120 years ago and is the largest in the country. Currently they own around 500 hectares of vines and control further 3500 hectares, producing over 20 million bottles a year. Their primary grape s Vranec, which comes in four ranges: Classic, Special edition, Limited edition and Alexandra Cuvee.

On the picture, the bottle is next to a Bulgarian martenitsa - a symbol of March.

Gaierhof Teroldego Rotaliano 2009

2011-02-22T10:09:00.000-08:00

The last wine from Trentino and probably the best one. The nose is of spices and fresh fruits. The mouth is smooth, very well balanced and rich in different aromas. Although the wine is relatively young, I could smell the oak barrel in it. Not so much tannins, which made the wine with beautiful dark red colour and great taste. A beautiful bottle as well. I always admire this. A perfect finishing for our ski vacation!

Teroldego Rotaliano Dorigati Trentino 2008

2011-02-18T07:55:00.000-08:00

Another evening in Val di Fassa, another fantastic wine from Trentino on our table. I just love tasting the local wines and usually these are my favourites on the blog.

A good finish, ruby colour and very well balanced wine. The mouth is of wild fruits - strawberries and cherries. The no

se is also of wild cherries and hints of plum and violet. A full body with intense flavours. This Teroldego Rotaliano ages for 6 months in steel tanks followed by six months of aging in bottle.

The wine was great, but unfortunately my choice of pasta this evening was unfortunate. I don't remember its name, but please do not pick up something looking like the picture below!

Armando Simoncelli Viticoltore Trentino Cabernet Franc 2005

2011-02-16T11:26:00.000-08:00

This is the second fabulous wine from Trentino in Italy. I was so taken by the taste of this wine - a fruity and light taste with medium acidity and well structured. The Trentino Cabernet Franc is perfect dinner wine. I loved its long finish and its strong nose of fresh raspberries and flowers.

We had the wine with Italian pasta,

of course, and the combination was more than perfect. I recommend this wine heartily.

Marzemino Cantina D'isera 2009

2011-02-07T06:29:00.000-08:00

This week we are having our winter vacation in Val di Fassa skiing. It is situated in the Trentino Valley of Italy ,where a lot wine is produced. There are many wineries around, as well as many wine shops and enouteqas. The variety of local wines is so wide, that it is difficult to choose.

This first wine I picked up from the supermarket. It costs about 8 Euro. The colour is dark ruby, the taste is a bit edgy, with strong tannis and little acid. Leaves a long lasting finishing and has a very typical taste for the local wine, as I noticed after trying several these days.

According to the label, the wine has been exalted by Mozart, but I must say I was not so impressed. The other wines we tried during our visit to Moena in Val di Fassa were much better.

Sangre de Toro 2007

2011-01-22T02:45:00.000-08:00

This wine comes from Spain as it is obvious from the bottle and the name (de Toro - bull in English). Deep ruby colour with a hint of ochre. Rich complex Mediterranean aromas with exuberant notes of spices and blackberries. Velvety tannins are noted on the palate with elegant flavours of small dark forest fruits (blueberries and blackcurrants).

I loved this wine. It does remind me of my trip to Barcelona long time ago when I tried Sangria for the first time. Sangre de Toro has a very similar taste! Naturally, it goes well with all kinds of tapas. I would recommend it for a cosy night-in with a Spanish dinner.

I will also give credit for the interesting story on the bottle label of the wine. I was pleased to learn that the name is inspired by Bacchus, Roman God of wine, known in ancient time as the " Son of the Bull". Now I know why my favorite wine magazine is called Bacchus.

Beaujolais Nouveau 2010

2011-01-14T08:51:00.000-08:00

I picked up this wine from the shelf of a local supermarket when going to visit my sister in her new apartment. It was recommended to my be a close friend who insisted to buy this "outstanding young french wine" and I was tempted. And yes, a few hours later, bottle empty, I could hardly focus on my driving, because the wine has got my head spinning from just a half glass. There is something about the young wine which is fascinating on its own.

Beaujolais Nouveau 2010 is very well-structured, lightweight and drinkable. The nose is of wild berries and pears. The colour is purple-pink.

The young Beaujolais Nouveau 2010 also has some interesting history behind it (there is even a page in Wikipedia about it, click here). It is made from the Gamay Noir a Jus Blanc grape (or simply Gamay) and is produced exclusively in the Beaujolais region of France. Every year, it is released on the third Thursday of November and is intended for immediate drinking (in general, it should not be kept for more than a year). By law in France, all grapes must be harvested by hand! It may sound just like a good marketing strategy, but it is worth it!

Feudo Arancio Merlot Sicilia 2009

2011-01-14T08:48:00.000-08:00

A very charming Merlot from beautiful Sicilia in Italy. Light and sweet, with some cherry taste and soft tannins - this wine is great for your dinner with friends.

The wine has won the Best Buy Award by the prestigious magazine Wine Enthusiast and I can strongly confirm this statement, although I don't know the price as the wine was a gift.

Lovely red, which goes into my recommendations list straight away!

Question mark Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot 2008

2011-01-03T11:19:00.000-08:00

This year again I had the chance to taste this wonderful wine, which I liked so much and blogged about it last year in February. This time, I will blog about vintage 2008, which has won gold medal on the prestigious International MUNDUS VINI competition in Germany.

By chance we had two different bottles of the same wine on our New Year's table. The one with the red neck is the ordinary bottle and the other had the gold medal stick on it and looked more stylish.

The wine is splendid! A colourful and rich aroma of black and red fruits, pepper and French oak. Full body with long lasting finishing and velvet taste of chocolate and mocha.

The richness and the taste, the stylish bottle and the overall classical appearance of the wine makes it perfect for a New Year's gift or a companion to your festive evening.

MUKUZANI 2008

2011-01-03T10:40:00.000-08:00

This strange ceramic bottle and the even stranger name Mukuzani comes from a village in Georgia called Mukuzani. The grape also has the same name. Usually the Mukuzani wine is left to age in oak barrels for longer than 2 years.

The wine is extremely dry with very strong nose of herbs and oak. The colour is dark ruby. The taste is a bit edgy and soar. Not exactly my type of wine, but probably goes well with heavy red meats.

We had this wine on New Year's Eve and most of my friends who tried it did not approve, because of its complexity. I wasn't charmed by the taste also, but the beautiful bottle made me buy it and try it. Costs about 10 Euro in supermarkets.

Alianza Estate - Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (Chile)

2010-12-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

Today I checked my blog attendance and to my surprise, the people reading the blog have surged to 40 a day! So, I decided it is about time to renew my writing and get this blog back on track. It is Christmas time after all! It's time for family gatherings, wine tasting and good old mom's cuisine.

My gap of 4 months not writing a single line is just the result of a busy schedule, not an end to my wine passion or wine tasting. I just hope I can write down at least the most memorable wines I had in the last few months. I will start with the wines which I had during my travels this year. I start from London, where I spent my birthday.

Alianza Cabernet Sauvignon is the typical New World wine from Chile. The colour is dark ruby with some purple. A very intense aroma of berries, cherries and soft menthol. The wine is very soft tannins and good persistence. A brilliant wine for the evening!

We had the wine with the most tasty dinner I have ever tried in London (some pictures attached) - greek salad and some starters, then we finished with a very well cooked home-made pasta, English style. I also highly recommend the restaurant: Fire & Stone (31-32 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden).

Frascati Superiore Terre dei Grifi 2008

2010-08-17T07:29:00.000-07:00

Frascati Superiore Terre dei Grifi shows a brilliant golden yellow color and nuances of straw yellow. The nose denotes intense, clean and pleasing aromas that start with hints of plum, apple and hawthorn followed by aromas of citrus fruits, pear and almond. The mouth is masterly balanced by alcohol, good body, intense flavors. The finish is persistent with flavors of apple, plum and almond.

I loved the style and taste of this gorgeous Italian wine, which was a gift from a friend and will always remind me of fresh Italian brusketi, sea breeze and hot summer evenings in Nessebar.

Fazi Battaglia Verdicchio Dei Castelli di Jesi Classico, 2009

2010-07-13T10:49:00.000-07:00

Tonight I am going to write about the most stylish wine I have ever tasted. As you can see on the picture, the bottle has a very sexy shape. Every detail in it is classical, stylish, unique. At first I though it is some kind of grappa, but no - it is Italian wine, of course. Just for your information, the little paper roll is a map of the region of the grape in Tuscany, Italy. The bottle was created for Fazi Battaglia winery (which is more than 200 years old! website) in 1953 by the architect Antonio Maiocchi, who was inspired by a ancient Etrusian amphora. The emerald-green bottle has become the icon for Verdicchio.

The wine is lively and has a special character. The taste is of golden apples, pears and hazelnuts. Since it is only last year's, the acidity is strong, but overall a great taste! I still can't believe I found this jewel in the local supermarket costing only about 8 Euro/bottle. Excellent for the summer - refreshing and romantic. What else do we need...

Canti Merlot Sicilia 2007

2010-07-09T06:30:00.000-07:00

We had this wine two days ago while dining with friends in a fancy new Italian restaurant downtown Sofia. The wine's aroma is a splendid bouquet of dried fruits and leafs. The wine is full-bodied and harmonious with a long lasting finishing. The taste is sleek, with pleasant viscosity and enough extrusion elements. We had the wine with some tasty taglietelle in parmigiano, Italian style. It did make our evening very special. A recommendation!

Katarzyna Le Rose 2009

2010-07-09T06:29:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's summer and it's time for Rose! And we opened the season with the best rose I have tried so far: Le Rose by Katarzyna Estate. It was recommended to us by the waiter in a lovely restaurant in Stara Zagora (Bulgaria) - Uniqato.

The bottle of Le Rose is stylish and cool with a summer playfulness in the shape and romantic french style in the label. Typical for this winery, every detail of the wine experience is carefully observed. Aromatic and fresh, the wine has a light and fruity taste.

A recommendation for the summer! Drink with ice and fresh salads and fruits.

Bi Cycle Rose Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah 2009

2010-07-09T06:27:00.000-07:00

I have to say that Minkov Brothers estate is my new favourite. I recently tried their rose Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah and I totally fell in love with it! Fresh, fruity and a bit bitter taste with a splendid red colour, which is very charming and attractive. Well balanced taste, rich tannins and a taste of berries and other summer fruits.

A recommendation for the wine and the winery!

Two Oceans Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot 2007

2010-07-09T06:21:00.000-07:00

This evening we decided to order a South African wine, while watching a game from the World Football Cup in this country. Although I am fond of South African wines, I wasn't charmed by this one. Let's be honest - if it is not closed with cork, it's not a real wine. We ordered this in a restaurant and we didn't know it is with an aluminium cap. Our expectations, of course, were met. The wine is not among the best I have tasted. Yes, it's a cheap wine, but it could have been better design and taste. The aroma is of strawberries and cherries, but rather nosy.

The wine itself has a taste of red fruits and sweet tannins. Nevertheless, it is soar, not very pleasant. Short and unpleasant finishing. I wouldn't recommend this wine.

Chateau Copsa Cuvee Rouge 2007

2010-06-18T06:27:00.000-07:00

The wine is produced in the vineyards of the Copsa winery situated in the heart of the Rose Valley in Bulgaria. The colour is dark red and very intense. The aroma is fresh with tinges of black cherries, french grapes and gentle vanilla. The taste is full-toned and concentrated with, a very pleasant sweet tone and a long lasting memorable finishing.

A recommendation by my ex-classmate and friend Slaveyko Djambazov.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2005

2010-05-30T22:51:00.000-07:00

This is another Italian wine in my top list of favourites. It has a delicate black almandine ruby with black reflections. A rich fruity bouquet , supported by some spices. Very well balanced, soft and delicate taste. The aroma is deep and full. A lovely colour too.

Vino Nobile do Montepulciano is one of the best reds with Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita status, produced in vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano, Italy. The wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape varity (known locally as Prugnolo gentile), blended with Canaiolo Nero and small amounts of other local varieties. The wine is aged in oak barrels for two years.

One of the best wines I have tasted in a while...

Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio Valdadige 2009

2010-05-30T22:50:00.000-07:00

We drunk this charming pinot grigio during our wonderful trip to Rome. It was a small bottle we shared with our lunch. It was actually offered and recommended in all restaurants we were sited. Obviously, it is a good value for money and a very popular one in Italy. Reading the winery Santa Margherita's website, I found out that this winery offered the first Italian Pinot Grigio and no suprise it is the most popular wine by the winery, winning many gold medals in international championships.

As the picture shows, the wine had a very pleasant gold colour. With the golden labels, it is a real eye candy and looks very stylish, and "Italian". The wine had a sweet taste of fruits. It is very light and pleasant to enjoy with seafood on a sunny, charming day in this splendid country full of history and love...

Elisabetta Geppetti Morellino di Scansani 2008

2010-05-30T22:48:00.000-07:00

I got my first taste of Morellino di Scansani in Rome on our first evening in a wonderful, cosy restaurant somewhere near via Salaria (the Salt street). It was splendid. I fell in love with this "strange typical Italian variety", which actually turned out to be 85% Sangiovese grape, but the Italians call it Morellino (I guess because it does sound better! :). The grapes are grown around the hills of Scansano and have been produced in Italy for more than several hundred years.

The wine is a very good value for money. It costed only about 15 Euro, but the taste was wonderful. It leaves a very memorable and long lasting finishing. Light and young, the wine is a very good companion for a hot summer evening.

Terrae Nobilles Piave Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

2010-05-30T22:47:00.000-07:00

This is the last wine we had during our trip to Rome. A brilliant ruby red with hints of garnet in colour. Generous aromas, remarkable for their velvety elegance, infuses with ripe fruit and a gentle note of spice and herbs. A remarkably length finish with some notes of wild berries. A truly wonderful wine.

The wine comes from the collection of Barrone Bianchi, who was a famous sommelier in Italy during the 19th century. Source: www.lesommelier.com

It was a wonderful Italian evening in the middle of old historical buildings and a truly romantic atmosphere with the most pleasant company.

Bonterra Zinfandel 2004

2010-05-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

We had this wonderful Californian Zinfandel on my graduation day and it did make my evening very special. The taste was intense and unique. A wonderful combination of dried blueberries, plums and spices. Its grapes are 86% Zinfandel, 11% Petite Syrah and 3% Syrah. The combination is refined and very elegant.

The Zinfandel grape variety is typically grown in Italy. I have already blogged and liked very much an Italian Zinfandel, but honestly, I cannot tell which one is better. The American one has this strong aroma and certain style that is different and better in a way than the Italian. Furthermore, this Zinfandel is said to be organic, and I am much fond of organic foods.

If you have time you should check out the website of Bonterra Winery here. It contents a very colourful and unique way of presenting the wines. Good job!

Bi Cycle Pinot Noir & Merlot 2008

2010-05-02T01:24:00.000-07:00

This is a great wine from the Minkov Brothers Winery in Bulgaria, coming from the popular Bulgarian Thracian region. It is new for me, although recently I tried Chateau Karnobat Merlot and I wasn't charmed. Nevertheless, I was recommended to try the Minkov Brother's higher class wines and I wasn't disappointed. Starting from the bottle, it is stylish and original. The picture on the label is very interesting - at first sight it looks as if a man is riding a normal bicycle. However, it is not a normal bicycle, but one made of a bed! Interesting...

The wine's taste is harmonious and rich. A very pleasant taste of dried fruits and caramel. Definately a good choice for the evening.

Baron Philippe de Rothschild Bordeaux 2008

2010-04-29T12:53:00.000-07:00

This adorable French wine is from the vineyards of one of the most famous winegrowers in France - Baron Philippe de Rothschild. When I read his biography I was shocked. He is not only a famous wine grower, but also a member of the Rothschild banking industry, a Grand Prix race-car driver, a screenwriter and playwright, a theatrical producer, a film producer and a poet. Well, how is this possible? Is he good in all these fields? At the moment I can only say about his wine. It was splendid! The wine is an aromatic bouquet of cherries and strawberries. Classical dry, the taste is well integrated and balanced. A pleasant, full aroma of dried fruits and light red dark shade of red. The grapes are 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 60% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Costing only about 8 Euro from supermarket, the wine is a good value for money.

Cabernet Sauvignon Rupci 2007

2010-04-29T03:26:00.000-07:00

Although middle class, this wine surprises with wonderful taste. It has a dark red ruby, dense colour. The taste is a mixture of old wooden barrels and dried fruits. A typical Bulgarian taste, but very saturated and well balanced with a fruit aroma.

A very well balanced wine with wonderful aroma. A great surprise for me, because the Vidin region is not well known for its wines (at least to me). I have never heard of this winery before, but I will try something else from it soon, especially vintage 2007. I am left with wonderful impressions. The bottle also looked very stylish and elegant. I liked the wooden "retro" label and the bottle form. A pleasure for my senses and great value for money, costing only about 5 Euro from the supermarket.

Oriachovitza Special Reserve Merlot 2005

2010-04-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

Although I had some time off the blog due to my approaching graduation, I had not stopped drinking wine. No, not at all! :) There are so many pictures, memories and some notes waiting to be released that I even feel a bit trapped and do not know where to begin from - from the oldest wine, the cheapest, the most memorable, the darkest, the last or the first I drunk during this time? No, I will simply start with Oriachovitza.

Maybe this name sounds complicated to you (it's a wine region in Bulgaria). The wine IS a wonderful complicated combination of chocolate flavour with some strawberries and oak barrels. Very dark and rich colour, wonderful aroma and long finishing. I enjoyed the wine with my family and it made our evening cheerful and pleasant. I also loved the bottle and its style.

Katarzyna Twins 2008

2010-03-30T12:50:00.000-07:00

Continuing with the wines from Katarzyna Estate, we can't miss the Twins. Again a catchy name - twins symbolises a single grape variety cabernet sauvignon blended by two oenologists.

The wine itself has a deep dark red colour and a very memorable aroma. The taste is light and fruity, yet harmonious and with long, deep finishing. I enjoyed the liveliness and richness of the taste. A lovely цомплемент to a long and romantic dinner.

The wine costs about 8 Euros from the shops. A recommendation.

Chateau Karnobat Merlot 2008

2010-03-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

To be honest I am not charmed by this wine. I was rather sour and edgy. Although I could taste the Merlot variety in it, its not one of the best I've tried, although the deep ruby colour charmed me at first.

The wine comes from the Karnobar region in Bulgaria, which used to be a huge wine manufacturer in the country during the Communism (Karnobat Vinprom). Then, the winery used to export cheap wine, and I must confess that despite the 50 years of experience and recent investments, not much has changed. The winery is still one of the cheapest and not very qualitative wineries in Bulgaria. However, I am determined to write about as many wines as possible and give my feedback for you. I hope I've been clear for this one.

Brunello di Montalcino 2004

2010-03-14T05:04:00.000-07:00

"I brought this wine from Italy for a special dinner. It is 2004 famous Tuscany wine. It is made from Sangiovese, colour and flavour coming from the skins of the grapes. The aroma is of cherries, black raspberry, chocolate and leather. I recommend it heartily."

by Slaveyko Djambazov

Baron Philippe de Rothschild Mapu Merlot Reserva 2007

2010-03-14T01:41:00.000-08:00

The Mapu Merlot comes from the Mapu region in Chillie and we had it with currey from Shri Lanka at my friend Rouja's place. Quite an interesting and magical combination. The wine was absolutely splendid, I really loved the rich, flowery aroma. The taste was deep and intense, very unique and different from the Bulgarian merlot. I am starting to be completely fascinated by Chilean wines. Light, delicious and utterly gorgeous taste, this wine goes into my top listed.

I give all my respect to Chilean people who lost hundreds of their people, homes and beloved ones in the earthquakes at the beginning of this year. I do hope the country will soon recover from this terror.

Baron Philippe de Rothschild Mapu Merlot Reserva 2007

Freixenet Carta Nevada Seco

2010-03-13T06:22:00.000-08:00

Carta Nevada is a dry sparkling wine from Spain. It is a blend of three white Spanish grape varieties called Macabeo (33%), Xarello (33%) and Parellada (33%) and combines fruity taste with robust and high-acid taste. Sparkling and tasty, it is perfect for a festive evening. In Google I also found a semi-dry version, which I intend to try soon.

It is interesting to mention that Cava is the Spanish sparkling wine equivalent to France's Champagne, as they state in Freiexent's website. Freixenet is one of the the oldest and largest Cava producers in Spain, starting in 1914 by Pere Ferrer Bosch and became a family business and now, almost 100 year later the Freixenet Group is still family owned. Actually, it turns out most wineries worldwide are family owned. I am sure it needs a lot of love and devotion to build a successful winery brand and no surprise a family is able to achieve it.

Ferreira Porto Tawny

2010-03-13T05:29:00.000-08:00

This wine was brought by a friend from Portugal and I would like to thank him, because otherwise I would have never tried this wonderful variety which is typical Portogese. I have never visited this wonderful warm country, but will do soon, I hope. The Porto Tawny is actualy not a typical wine: it has 19,5% alcohol, light ruby colour and very sweet taste. The flavour is of fresh fruits and toffee. The Porto is more like a liqueur or brandy. More of a "woman's drink", but quite strong. It is not drunk in the typical wine glasses and is not going well with dinner. It is a dessert wine and will go best with a chocolate or toffee cake. Yammy!

Ferreira Porto Tawny is from the Dauro Valley in Portugal. The Ferreira company has been founded by a family of Douro winegrowers back in 1751, and is usually classified as one of the best sellers of Port worldwide. Port wine is a Portogese style of fortified wines originating from the Douro Valley. It is typically sweet and is served as a dessert wine at the end of dinner. Although Porto is produced in US, Argentina, India, Canada and other countries, in the European Union it is protected and only a Portogese Porto use the term. Port can be produced from different grapes, but usually it is fortified by adding a grape called Aguardente. Very interesting stuff, I am already a Porto fan. (Source).

Question mark Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot 2007

2010-02-28T02:00:00.000-08:00

I shall close this month with probably the best wine of all. Maybe it's the cold weather this month, or it's St'Valentine but the total wine posts this month count to 19! I will probably hold this record for a long time!

Question mark is the most famous wine by the Katarzyna estate. It has a deep, dark red colour and unique, rich and plentiful taste of peppers, tobacco and black chocolate. The finishing is long lasting and harmonious. The wine is a wonderful mixture of Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot, vintage 2007 from the famous Thracian region in Bulgaria. It is a bit expensive, but totally worth it (about 20 Euro in shops).

Question mark is the first wine by Katarzyna Estate. It started with the question how to launch it successfully and it turned so successful that the name stayed the same. I like the idea. A great wine and a great finishing for my wine script this wonderful February.

Katarzyna Estate Halla Merlot 2008

2010-02-28T01:59:00.000-08:00

Katarzyna is one of my favourite Bulgarian cellars and thank God it has endless list of wines, varieties and vintages to taste. Halla is one of the higher ranked ones, a bit more expensive than Mezzek, Contemplations and Junior.

The wine has a deep taste and is a very good combination of dried fruits and, vanilla aromas and oak. The finishing is long and memorable. A good value for money and wonderful for the evening dinner or friendly lunch with red meets and soft cheese. I personally drunk it on the glass with a friend of mine, while studying for exams. Nevertheless, it was still good.

Todoroff Boutique Merlot 2008

2010-02-28T01:57:00.000-08:00

Excellent wine. The look of the bottle, the refined taste and the great aroma send this one on the top places of my wine script. I loved the purple bottle neck and the art label. Actually, as I already wrote about Todoroff winery, it is one of the bulgarian cellars that combine wine & art very successfully.

Todoroff Boutique is a selection of young wines aged for four to twelve months. Young and fresh taste, very well balanced with a notable fruity aroma and dark ruby, even purple colour. The wine is intended to be served straight away. A dry red Merlot, vintage 2008, which we had for lunch with my colleagues from university.

+359 Cabernet & Syrah 2007

2010-02-28T01:55:00.000-08:00

Well, I can say that the label of this bottle of Villa Lubimetz winery is more important to mention than the wine itself. I read about the label's latest design in a magazine some time before and I anticipated to taste it. I liked it, but it was a bit soar and not memorable. The aroma is bit strong and tastes of spirit.

Enough about the wine, let's say something about the label. As I already said, its more famous than the wine itself. The idea is to have a strong national appeal: +359 is the telephone code of Bulgaria and the font is the one used by the first Bulgarian Post in 1960s. However, it seems to me that the bright yellow covering on the bottle neck totally ruins the idea. More information about the label you can find on the world's number 1 package design website.

Uniqato Melnik 2008

2010-02-26T00:34:00.000-08:00

This typical Bulgarian wine from the Damianitza winery is coming from the Melnik region (Early Melnik variety). Melnik is the most famous winery region in Bulgaria. It's a small, cute town among the mountains, where almost every house's basement is a winery and a guesthouse for wine tourists. Basically, in Melnik wine and wine tourism are the core sources of income for the local people. Many people go there and spend the evening tasting local wines in a typical Bulgarian "mehana". Then, when leaving, everybody buys one of those plastic bottles of home-made wine, which is simply amazing - a young, pure and very dry home-made wine from Melnik is priceless for everyone who've tasted it.

Besides my expectations to taste something similar to home-made Melnik wine and the exaggerated popularity of Uniqato Melnik, the wine was a disappointment for me. A bit tasteless and very edgy, it doesn't really comply with my image of Melnik wines. The label and the bottle itself were nothing special. I think it would have been nice to write something more about the town of Melnik or at least writing why it is so unique (uniqato?).

Zinfandel Redwood California 2007

2010-02-26T00:31:00.000-08:00

This is the first American wine I picked from our local Bulgarian supermarket on quite reasonable price (about 7 Euro). Its amazing how the world is becoming so small. Only about 10 years ago it was impossible to find American, Chilean or Argentinian wine in a Bulgarian supermarket.

Second new for me is the variety - Zinfandel, which is very well known and popular in the US, as I have been told. This Californian Zinfandel is grown in Redwood Valley, California and is very close as taste to the Italian variety Primitivo. Actually, only just recently it was recognized as a separate variety (Source) . It is full and rich in flavour and I can feel a spicy note. Very well balanced and fine. I really loved it. We had it with some cheese and vegetable and it went very well. Will definitely taste another Zinfandel soon as well as some more American wines. I am curious what else can be grown in sunny California.

No Man's Land Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

2010-02-26T00:25:00.000-08:00

This wine from the famous Damianitza region is very reasonable price and therefore very popular in Bulgarians restaurants. However, I haven't tasted it before and after trying it last weekend, it seems I haven't missed much. The wine was a little disappointment, but fortunately it didn't spoil the great evening we had.

The taste of the wine is very intense and a little heavy I have to say. Maybe the wine will go well with a red meat, but for me, as a vegetarian, it is a little too heavy. Neverthless, I liked the fruitiness taste in it.

As almost any popular Bulgarian wine, the label has a story behind it. No man's land does sound memorable and somehow mysterious. The story behind it is that No Man's Land is a 5 mile land in Southwest Bulgarian border that used to separate the worlds of Socialism and Capitalism. During the Cold war, it used to be a scary place for those who tried to escape abroad. Although the story sounds sleazy, knowing the situation inside out, during Socialism people in Bulgaria were living better than in the recent years during Capitalism. Not so many tried to escape back then and the scary stories about the horrific Socialism are a bit exaggerated.

Frankenseele Spätburgunder 2007

2010-02-26T00:23:00.000-08:00

This is the last wine I bought during my trip to Germany. Not knowing the complicated German language I had to seek help by Google Translate to find out what is the variety. So, it turns out that Spatburgunder is the word for the variety and it means Pinot Noir. Frankenseele refers to the region (Franken) where the grape comes from.

To be honest, if I knew that before buying the wine, I wouldn't have because I am not a Pinot Noir lover. Nevertheless, the wine was surpassingly brilliant!

The Spatburgunder is the best red grape grown in Germany, like the Riesling is for the whites. It was brought to Germany from Burgundy in the 14th Century. The wine had a velvet, delicate taste, wonderful, strong aroma and light, ruby colour. I loved its delicate taste. It's definately the best buy I made in Germany.

Predela Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2008

2010-02-26T00:17:00.000-08:00

This Italian wine is from the Abruzzo region in Italy which is a famous wine region for many red and white varieties. One of the most grown red grape variety is the Montepulciano, known for its brilliant dark ruby colour and dry, tannic taste.

The Abruzzo region is known for its mountain landscape and is not particularly wealthy. The local people are proud and stubborn. The Predela wine had a very distinctive taste of wild fruits and flowers, which I loved. Very light and easy to drink table wine. Great for a cosy evening with friends.

Contemplations Merlot & Malbec 2008

2010-02-26T00:08:00.000-08:00

This is one of the best Bulgarian wines I have tasted recently from Katarzyna winery. It has a deep tannic taste and wonderful finishing. The colour is dark ruby and the aroma is intoxicating. A wonderful companion for the evening.

The bottle of Contemplations is very memorable, so it is worth saying something more here. I picked the wine from the shelves, because I thought it's interesting to read the story on the label. It also looked stylish and cool. Actually, every variety and vintage of the Contemplations series has a different story in rhyme or in prose on its label. The word contemplation means to provoke thinking, considering and expecting something, so the purpose of the story is provoke your thinking, so the wine becomes your companion for the evening. Interesting, but I wouldn't recommend to drink it on your own though. This originality has won a bronze medal for Katarzyna in the 2009 Label Design Awards in San Francisco. Congratulations for the great combination of quality wine and original bottle.

35° South Reserva Shiraz 2007

2010-02-17T07:26:00.000-08:00

Although cold, snowy and dull, February is lovely, because it is the month of St.Valentine and Trifon Zarezan (The Bulgarian holiday of vine-growers and wine-makers). I think it is seen from the intensity of my wine posts this month that I am totally on a wine spree and very much in love too. So this wine from Chile is very special, because we drunk it on St.Valentine's Eve. It was splendid.

The wine itself has a very intense fruity aroma and dark violet colour. The taste is a bit edgy, but gentle and fresh. I could feel the dried cherries and strawberries in the taste. The wine has been left to get old for five months in French barrels, so the taste of oak can also be identified. The finishing is long lasting and memorable.

The grapes are 100% Shiraz variety from the Elqui Valley in Chile and have been hand-picked. The wine has won several medals in London and Paris.

Penfold Rawson's Retreat Shiraz Cabernet 2007

2010-02-13T08:10:00.000-08:00

The wine we had for dinner last night was a wonderful Austrilian red vintage 2007 of variety Shiraz (Syrah) and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine's aroma is a wonderful floral and fruit bouquet. The colour is medium to light red. The taste is tannic and harmonious with a fruit flavour. Very well balanced. The wine is from wineries in South Australia such as Padthaway, Langhorne Creek, Riverland and McLaren Vale. I wish I knew those places. I have always wanted to visit this amazing country, although it is so far away from where I am based.

On Penfolds website I found some interesting info about the name of the wine. It is named after Christopher Rawson Penfold's original stone cottage built in the year 1845, which is still standing among the vines of Magill Estate in Adelaide, South Australia.

The wine is very light and easy-drinkable. It goes great with beef, lamb or pasta. The floral aroma of the wine relates to the exotic country it come from.

Santa Sarah Black C. Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot 2005

2010-02-13T05:53:00.000-08:00

We had this wine with a lovely dinner in a fish restaurant downtown Sofia last weekend. I have to say I was very pleased with the choice we made - the wine is amazing, It has a dark ruby colour and a memorbale finishing. The taste is of dried fruits, tabacoo and oak. The finishing is memorable, leaving a lasting tannic tatse in the mouth. It would go best with red meats and Bulgarian yellow cheese. Although, we had it with fish, it was still very nice and we spent a lovely evening.

The wine is produced in Santa Sara winery on the Black Sea, but the grapes are transported from the Thracian region. In the winery's website the producers say that making this wine was like realzing a dream. They also say that its their best selling wine and I can see why. All the feedbacks I read for it were all positive. It is a very good choice for the evening or a special occasion. A recommendation.

Franken Müller-Thurgau 2008

2010-02-13T04:07:00.000-08:00

This wine, which I bought from Wurzburg as well is of the Muller-Thurgau variety. As I already explained, the round bottle signifies that it is from the Franken region in Germany. It is a variety of white grapes that was created by Hermann Muller from the Swiss Canton of Thurgau in 1882. It is the Germany second most planted variety, but its planting is declining.

The wine is dry and reminds me of the Muscat vareity. The taste is medium sweet and smooth. Although this variety is quite outdated and abondened in Germnay I loved it and would definately buy some more when in Germany.

Wein Galerie Rotling 2008

2010-02-13T01:55:00.000-08:00

The Rotling variety is a mixture of white and red grapes or their mash prior to fermentation. Although the colour is similar to rosé, it is actually quite different from it.

The wine is half dry and is coming from the Franken region in Germany. The bottle has an unusual round shape which dates back to the 16th century. It is called the Bocksbeutel and may be used only for the Franken wines.

And finally, maybe I should say something for the wine itself! To be honest I didn't like it much. It is not white, but not red either. The taste is too sweet and the finishing was actually absent. Maybe I should give it a try with a more expensive representative of the Rotling.

Riesling Classic 2008

2010-02-04T11:41:00.000-08:00

Finally, it's white wine in my list and it's German! And more suprisingly, despite the price of 2,5o Euro from the supermarket the wine is simply gorgeous! The price is no suprise though, for where I bought it from - Würzburg. This wonderful city, where I happened to be this week because of work engagements, turned out to be one of the most famous wine cities in Germany The city is

surrounded by vineyards on the hills and in the city center you can stop by and taste a local wine (ususally offered in small circlular bottles) in one of the those cute wine shops or restaurant. The most glorious monument in the city is the Marienberg castle, which is situated on a hill and surrounded by vineyards. On the top of the hill, we visited a very well kept museum of art & history of the region. It is definately worth going there as a tourist and spend more time. More info can be found on Wikipedia, of course.

The most popular white variety in the region is the Riesling. It is a new vatiety, highly aromatic especially of apple and peach. I felt exactly this taste in my mouth after drinking a glass. Reading in Google, however, I found that the Riesling, also know as "the other white wine" (I really don't knoiw why!?) varies from sweet to half dry (Halbtrocken) and very dry (Trocken). Very drinkable and very pleasant taste.

Riscal Tempranillo 2006

2010-02-02T12:55:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we had a small bottle of the Spanish Riscal in a Japanese restaurant (in the accompanying picture you can see the wonderful desert we had from green tea biscuits).

The wine itself had a dark colour and very deep, harmonious taste. Tempranillo variety is smooth and tannic. I also loved the finishing and it went very well with our Japanese dinner.The wine is from the Castilla y Leon region in Spain and costs about 15 Euro. I have to say it is a very good value for money for the quality and definitely goes into my favourites.

Todoroff Gallery Merlot 2007

2010-02-02T11:56:00.000-08:00

Todoroff is the first boutique cellar in Bulgaria and used to be my favourite for many years. Unfortunately, in the recent yeas I think the taste has changed a little and the cellar's leading position has been taken by others. Nevertheless, the Merlot listed here remains among my favourites and Todorff cellar is a respected and well know brand in the industry. They also have a splendid spa hotel near the town of Plovdiv (Bulgaria), which charmed me with exceptional art collection, style and great service when visiting last year.

The wine's colour is dark ruby red. I particularly liked the strong aroma and balanced taste of spice, dry fruits and a tinge of oak. The wine leaves a memorable finishing in the mouth. All Todoroff Gallery wines have been left to get old for about three years in "Barrique" type of oak barrels, so that's where the oak taste comes from. There is also another selection of young wines called Todoroff Boutique. More information about this top Bulgarian winery you can find on their website.

We had the wine with a light dinner in a typical and famous restaurant in Sofia: "Pod lipite". The dinner was pleasant and the wine made the food even more delicious. A recommendation.

Dulong Grand Vin de Bordeaux 2006

2010-02-01T22:21:00.000-08:00

This French wine is great smooth red, pretty dry and with a soft floral hint. I liked its soft taste and wonderful fruity touches. I have given this bottle as a present to my sister and I only tasted a small glass, but I have to say I was charmed.

The Dulong winery is a family business which run for 5 generations. It is from the famous Bordeaux region in France, whcih produces the following varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbek. The colourful combination of all these varieties makes the wines from this region very deep and tasteful. As the winemakers there say, each Bordeaux wine has its own personality. More information on Bordeaux wines you can find here.

The Bordeaux wines with Merlot go very well with spicy Asian or Oriental cuisine, because the smoothness of the wines balances the fire of the spice.

A recommendation for a lovely dinner.

Junior Merlot and Tempranillo 2008

2010-01-25T11:43:00.000-08:00

As the name states, the following wine from the Katarzyna estate is young, vintage 2008. It seems that in Bansko Katarzyna wines are very popular, because they offer them in every restaurant there.

The wine from the Merlot and Temprabillo varieties is

very light and fruity taste, very well balanced and harmonuis. I did loved it. It goes very well with almost any food and shoud be served a little bit chilled. We had it with a white cheese, honey and walnuts appetiser, which was such a great and tasty combination that it made the taste of the wine even better and lasting.

The second picture is an amazing dish we had in the Bansko restaurant with the wine. It is white Bulgarian cheese, honey and walnuts. The salty&sweet taste was a great combination and was really breathtaking.

Mezzek White Soil Mavrud 2008

2010-01-25T10:54:00.000-08:00

Although I am not a fan of Mavrud wine, it is actually the most appropriate one for a dinner in a typical Bulgarian restaurant. We had this wine in one of my favourite places in Bansko ski resort - the Motikata restaurant. The food in those restaurants is so amazing that a heavy and tipsy wine like this actually goes quite well.

The mavrud is from the famous Karazyna estate and more precisely from the White Soil Vineyard which is situated in the Turkish and Greek borders of Bulgaria. There is a whole range of varieties from this vineyard and hopefully one by one I shall try them all.

In the taste I could feel a heavy scent of fruits and tabacoo. The colour was dark red, ruby and rch. Not a bad choice of wine for the evening in a cold, cold winter (was -25 degrees out there, I am not joking :).

Remole Toscana 2008

2010-01-19T12:18:00.000-08:00

The wine we had last night was Italian Sangiovese (85%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) from the famous and lovely Toscana region. A splendid table wine, which charmed me with wonderfull taste of cherries and strawberries and a very strong nose of fruits and aromatic herbs. A young wine, which goes well with every food and is very drinkable. A very good choice and my strong recommendation!

Typically for everything Italian, the bottle is very stylish. Actually, this was the reason to pick it up from the shelves. The other reason was Toscana - this wonderful piece of paradise in Italy is the home of beauty and harmony. The wine did not disappoint me either and we had a wondeful evening!

Targovishte Chardonnay 2008

2010-01-14T12:26:00.000-08:00

Targovishte Chardonnay is a very popular low class wine in Bulgaria. It is sold in every supermarket and in every restaurant on the glass. The reason behind it is the price (about 3 Euro per bottle) and the fresh and fruity taste, which is quite likable to most people.

As for me, I find the taste a bit edgy and sour. The smell is not too bad, because it is fresh and flowery. The wine is from the Black Sea region in Bulgaria and this smell somehow fits it perfectly.

As with most of the white wines, it should be drunk well cold in order to taste good. It is OK for summer vacation with friends on the beach bar.

The wine has won silver medal at the prestigious competition " Chardonnay du Monde " France 2008.

Tcherga Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Rubin 2005

2010-01-14T12:03:00.000-08:00

This wine is one the most popular in Bulgaria for the last few years. Costing only about 7 Euro, it is considered a good buy. I also have to say the bottle is very catchy and gives the impression of an expensive wine - it is tall and slimmer and there is a wax covering on the opening. For those who are curious, Tcherga "is a typical Bulgarian craft-made rug" made of different colours. The idea of the name is to show how the different tastes and aromas of the wine are mixing, just like the colourful rug is made up of magnificent colours. I do appreciate wines with a meaningful name and some history behind it.

As to the taste - it is quite nice actually. It does combine very successfully the taste of fresh fruits, honey and vanilla. The colour is dark ruby and the smell of fruits and oak is relaxing and is enough to prepare you for a lovely evening.

Definitely a recommendation for those who come visiting Bulgaria - a typical blend from the Thracian region with a wonderful finishing.

Lacrima Lui Ovidiu 1999

2010-01-09T09:41:00.000-08:00

This wine was given to me by our Romanian partner. We tried it striaght in the office and strangly - within drinking only a glass, we were all a bit drunk! Yes, the alcohol is 15%, but it is actually the extreme sweetness of the wine that made us drunk so fast. We even argued if it is a white wine or a liqueur, but our Romanian client confirmed that it is a high class wine in Romania from the Murfatlar region in the country, vintage 1999. The number 5 on the bottle indicates that it has aged in oak barrels for 5 years. There is also a 12 year bottle.

As I already noted, the wine has a very dominant sweet taste and golden yellow colour. The aroma is very rich and represents a wide mixture of dried and fresh fruits. The taste is fruity and there is a strong presense of the oak taste.

Overall, I definately fell in love with this unique blend. Romania is a not a famous wine country and maybe this fact adds to its charm and uniqeness. A curious fact is that Romanians drink much more white wine than red. I wonder why!

Chateau Windy Hills Merlot Reserve 2004

2010-01-05T10:32:00.000-08:00

The wine I had today is dry red reserve, vintage 2004. It is not a secret anymore, that I am a red wine lover.

This wine from the Thracian region in Bulgaria has been left to get old for 18 nonths in the bottle and was 6 years old when opening the bottle. It does have a different colour from the younger wines I have tasted recently - dark red and rubby with a little orange spice. The taste is a wonderful mixture of dried fruits, sugar and vanilla. Although this sounds sweet, the wine is actually quite bitter - a strong and intence taste leaving quite a memorable finishing.

I was curious to find out from the winery website that the cellar is situated in the middle of its 500 acres of vineyard. The winery building (in a typical Bulgarian style) itseff is equiped with the most modern technology for wine manufacturing, a romantic restaurant and a four star hotel. It is situated on a hill near the town of Sliven, which is famous for its very strong wind (this is actually where the name comes from). Next to the building there is a small wind generator acting as an eco energy source for this lovely piece of paradise for a St.Valantine celebration.

Suprisingly, reading further in Google for this woderful place, I actually found out it is for sale for the price of EUR 6,600,500! What a pity! More info here.

Rocca dei Forti Vino Spumante Brut

2010-01-03T00:56:00.000-08:00

This nice Italian sparkling wine from the Abruzzo region in Italy is very suitable for a small celebration and is a good value for a money (about 8 Euro). It does add to the festive mood with its very light sparkles and beautiful light ruby colour.

The wine has a very delicate and fine taste with а sweet spice. Best served at 12° C I think it goes best with any starter or ors d'oeuvre.

My first impression from the wine and the bottle itself is a of a delicate and very light table wine, which looks stylish and festive.

Share

Astica Merlot & Malbec 2007

2010-01-03T00:05:00.000-08:00

Astica Merlot and Malbec is from the Menodza region in Argentina, vintage 2007. I have to confess it is one of the few wines from this region I have tasted, although this one was a little dissapointment.

I was curious to find out some data for the Malbec variety, which is typical for Argentina. According to Julia Kostadinova, a writer at Bachus magazine (www.bacchus.bg), Melbec is an emblematic variety, grown up in every part of Argentina. The top wines of this variety are splendid, dense and fruity, with aromas from blackcurrant, blueberries and blue plums, mixed with the aroma of chocolate and spicies.

The Astika wine had a nice aroma, but the taste was rather edgy and tannic with a very small glimse of chocolate flavour. Maybe this is due to the combination of the Malbec with Merlot, but for my dissapointment the taste was not at all dense and splendid, but rather exotic and tasteless. Maybe it is just me, as I am used to other varieties and regions, but actually I do think a single variety wine would be better and I will try another Malbec soon.

Share

Mezzek White Soil Merlot 2008

2009-12-29T11:40:00.000-08:00

Mezzek White Soil Merlot is also from my favourite Katarzyna Estate, situated in the Thracian Region of Bulgaria, vintage 2008. It is a dry red wine with wonderful scent of fruits.

The colour is dark red and ruby. The aroma is light and fruity with an oak tinge. The taste of the wine is very well balanced and harmonious. 14% alcohol.

The wine is very suitable for a lovely dinner of pasta and soft cheese. It is definately a very good value for money (costing only about 3,50 Euro). I have to admit it tastes much better that some of the more expensive wines described here.

Share

Agiorgitiko Boutari 2006

2009-12-27T08:04:00.000-08:00

The chance sent me to Greece this Christmas and I had the chance to taste a real Greek wine of a variety I have never heard before: Agiorgitiko from the Nemea, Peloponnese region. Mantinia Winery,

I do not have a lot of experience with Greek wines, but after drinking this one (which is actually an ordinary one, not very expensive) I am definitely a fan from now on. The wine had a rich, aromatic smell and very sweet taste of fruits and vanilla. It went very well with the lovely dinner in the taverna. The colour was deep red, but the bottle was encrypted only in Greek letters, so I had a real difficulty in reading the name of the wine.

I became curious about the winery Boutari, so I looked it up in Google. On the company website http://www.boutari.gr, I found that it is actually one of the biggest wine companies in Greece with a history of more than 130 years and over 40 labels and several wineries in Greece and South of France. It has won numerous awards throughout the years and I will definitely try some other labels too.

Share

Mavrud Asenovgrad 2006

2009-12-22T12:49:00.000-08:00

The consecutive Bulgarian wine in my list. This one, however, is different - it is really Bulgarian, because it is Mavrud variety, which is typical Bulgarian.

The Mavrud from the Asenovgrad region was actually very nice. I loved it. The wine has a typical depth for this type of variety. It is a little heavy, but lovely for a dinner with friends and a good meal. On the label of the wine itself it says that it goes very good with red meat. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend you a good food with it, because I am a vegetarian, but I think anyone who wants to taste a piece of Bulgaria, should try this variety. Asenovgrad region is a must try!

Share

Rousse Winery Chardonney 2008

2009-12-22T11:10:00.001-08:00

This is the first white wine in the blog. This wine is not really so special to be the first, it is just the first white wine that happened to be in my house and I could try it. My sister has bought it to cook the dinner with it.

The wine is Chardonnay from the Rousse winery, vintage 2008. I don't want to offend the makers, but the wine has no smell. A totally smelliness wine, strange as it sounds.

The taste is also nothing special, but it is actually not so bad. I can drink a glass or two and it makes me a bit drunk. It is OK if you are a white wine lover.

Share

Bacalis Minervois 2002

2009-12-22T09:56:00.001-08:00

This was a very different taste. I cannot really describe it. Maybe I am too used to the taste of Bulgarian and Spanish wines that I cannot really accept something really different. French wines ARE different.

Bacalis Minervois, vintage 2002, impressed me with its different taste and smell. I cannot even say what the smell really felt like - maybe like an old, vintage wardrobe, or something really strange.

After the first glass, the taste became more acceptable and I could have drunk all the rest on my own :) Fortunately, I was with a very loud and funny friends circle, who said that the wine was amazing and it was finished before I could taste another glass. So yes, I do recommend it. It was different, fun and... French.

It is definitely worth trying!

Share

Nero D'Avora Sicilia 2005

2009-12-20T10:52:00.000-08:00

Nero D'Avola from Sicilia really charmed me. Not only with the witty name and stylish look, but also with its colourful and juicy taste.

I have always loved Italian wines. Art and beauty are natural to Italians and to everything they do. So is NeroD'Avola - it is naturally tasty and nice. A very delicate and harmonious taste.

The wine is vintage 2005 and has this wooden taste, which is great. The alcohol is only 12,5% and is really light. Very suitable for a typical Italian dinner. Tagliatelle and red wine - real classic.

Share

Encore Syrah 2008 - Katarzyna Estate

2009-12-20T03:05:00.000-08:00

The Encore Syrah 2008 from the Katarzyna estate is probably the best wine I have tasted in a while. And no surprise here, because it has recently won silver medal at the prestigious awards Syrah du Monde.

The bottle is extremely stylish. I cannot skip the fact that it was wrapped in a gorgeous gift box, which makes it perfect for a gift. Probably the most notable memory I have of this wine is the smell. It is a rich and plentiful smell of old barrels, tobacco and fruits. The taste is also very deep and intense, leaving a pleasant and lasting taste in the mouth at finish . The relatively high alcohol (14.5%) contributes for a relaxing and laid back atmosphere.

Encore Syrah 2008 is a real celebration for wine lovers - it is a cool combination of style, tradition and romance. The perfect gift and the perfect wine for an unforgettable evening. It did make mine very special and definitely goes into my favorites' list.

Cheers!

Share

Gran Feudo Crianza - Tempranillo & Garnacha & Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

2009-12-18T11:55:00.000-08:00

This is the first Spanish wine in the blog. Although old (vintage 2005) the taste of the wine is rather light and fruity. The smell is also nice and warm. The colour of the wine is dark red with violette shades.

A little history - the wine is produced in a family vineyard founded in the distant 1647 year. The business has been transferred from father to son, to become one of the famous wines in the Navara region in Spain nowadays.

The red bottle neck of the bottle is catchy and wine has this mysterious Spanish touch. It is great wine for a casual evening, but I wouldn't recommend it for a special occasion.

Sakar Merlot & Pinot Noir 2008

2009-12-17T12:10:00.000-08:00

The wine I chose to drink tonight is also from the Thracian region in Bulgaria, also vintage 2008. Strangely, this time I picked up the wine because it is made by one of the famous wineries in Bulgaria - Sakar Lubimets, and also because of the different variety: Merlot & Pinot Noir. However, it was a little dissapointment. The wine did not leave any feeling of satisfaction. The taste was a little sour and too conventional for my taste.

The bottle was also nothing special. The coulour was ruby and the smell is a little heavy.

I woudn't recommend this wine for a special evening. Although maybe with a pleasant company and smooth jazz music, any wine would be appreciated.

Carpe Diem Cebrnet Sauvignon & Merlot & Malbec & Syrah 2008

2009-12-16T10:24:00.000-08:00

This wine caught my eye with its name: "Carpe Diem". It means: Live the moment! Enjoy Life! in Latin. These are words of a poet from Rome called Horacii. Is there a more appropriate name for a bottle of red wine in a romantic evening?

A few words for the bottle. It looks very stylish. Although I cannot really read all the words on the label, I must say that Latin sounds somehow aristocratic and gives the uniqueness of the bottle.

The wine is Cebrnet Sauvignon & Merlot & Malbec & Syrah. What a combination! Vintage 2008. Bulgarian from the famous Thracian land.

The colour of the wine is ruby with a violet shade. The smell is light and fruity. The taste is very pleasant - not too strong but your head goes around from the first glass. The combination of four varieties leaves a unique feeling in your month. It tastes somehow different.

I would recommend this wine for a cosy and pleasant winter night in, just like the one I had. It's a wonderful table dry wine for evening emotions.

Share

Welcome

2009-12-15T10:24:00.000-08:00

Dear future readers of Wine Script,

This is my first and only such post in this blog. From now on, all the posts here will be only about wine, wine and wine again. After all, the meaning of blogging, is not to only "have" a blog, because it is trendy, but also to inform, to entertain, to amaze and intrigue the reader. Just like a small magazine!

In this blog, I will list every wine I taste during my every day life with a picture and the price. I will also describe in detail the taste and the feeling I got from the wine. My aim is to inform and recommend good wines, so that I can make your choice for the evening easier and pleasant.

Enjoy!