Bulgaria

Kagor is a fortified dessert wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon and other grapes.  It  originated as a sacramental wine for use in the Russian Orthodox Church.  Peter the Great had developed a taste for Cahors wines and started importing them in bulk. The Russian clergy was so impressed with its blood-red color (reminiscent of Christ's blood) that the Holy Synod adopted Cahors as a preferred wine for sacraments in 1733. Kagor is a modern type of "Cahors" developed for Prince Lev Golitsyn in the late 19th century.

This was the wine of the tasting at a recent tasting of Bulgarian wines (though they all showed well).  Globetrotting enologist Michel Rolland is the consulting winemaker at this winery.  Like many of his wines, this bold and fruit forward is going strong at age eight.  This is inky purple  in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black olives, roasted meats and roasted veggies.  Full bodied.  Intense.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is complex.  Layers of black raspberry fruit, char and slight earthiness.  Good balance.  Long finish.  This drinks well o

This is a blend of Merlot 52%, Syrah 26%, Petit Verdot 14%, and Cabernet Sauvignon: 8%.  It works quite well.  Garnet/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose smells like a great Bordeaux blend; cassis, cherries, cigar box and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has some depth and complexity. Cherries, black raspberries with some char and spice.  Light tannins.  This drinks great on its own and would work with roasted meats (or veggies).  This should drink well for the next seven to ten years.  A really good value.  

This is made from the Rubin grape which was created in 1944 through cross-breeding of Syrah & Nebbiolo.  It is one of the more popular red grapes grown in Bulgaria.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries and cherry candy.  Medium bodied.

This is made from the Mavrud grape, an ancient grape indigenous to Bulgaria.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, boysenberries, smoke, and slight forest floor.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is more of an elegant wine with black cherry fruit, tart cherries and underlying forest floor.  Complex.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  A really interesting experience.  This will work better with food than on its own.  Roasted fowl or even pasta Bolognaise would work well.  Drink over the next four to seven years.  

Mavrud is a grape that dates back to the Greek times.  The name comes from a Greek word meaning blacks the  skin is bluish-black.  It is one of the prized indigenous grapes in Bulgaria.  The winery is built on the site of an ancient Monastery that was destroyed by the Turns in the fifteenth century.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, some raspberries, plums and strawberries.  Some spice as well.  On the palate, this is medium bodied with good acidity.  Black cherry fruit.  Light tannins.  Some depth and complexity.  This is a really nice value.  Somewhat Pinot-like bu

Bouquet is grape variety that is cross between the Mavrud and Pinot Noir grapes created in 1951 at the Pleven viticulture and oenology institute in northern Bulgaria.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries and cranberries.  Medium bodied.  Silky tannins.  On the palate, this has a cherry sweet tart quality.  Sort of Pinot-like but a bit heavier.  An intriguing wine that certainly has some potential.  It drinks fine on its own but really needs some food to work with the acidity.  Roasted fowl would be a nice choice but a burger would work too.  Its hard to say, but

This is made from the Gamza grape (known as Kadarka in Hungary).  It has a long history in Bulgaria.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries and pomegranates.  On the palate, this is tart with moderate tannins.  Very mouth-puckering.  Flavors of cherries and cranberries with some depth.  Long, tart finish.  This wine begs for food and will work better with food to cut the acidity.  Chicken dishes should work well.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is an unusual blend from one of Bulgaria's top rated young wineries.  Silvery/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a slight lychee nut but mostly minerals and lemons.  Slightly oily texture.  Clean and refreshing  on the palate with a nice backbone of acidity.  Lemons and minerality on the palate.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next year or so.  This drinks easily on its own and will work well with lighter foods.  Thai food would be a nice match.  

A nice take on a simple Sauvignon Blanc from Bulgaria.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has citrus with a steely quality.  On the palate, there is a nice minerality with slight tropical fruits.  A slightly oily texture.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This drinks easy but isn't likely to last a long time.  Drink now.  This is nice on its own but will be a bit better with food.  Lighter dishes will work well.