Melnik 55 Reserve

Just another wine you must taste ...

A wine for every season – smooth and refined enough for a summer evening, yet rich and elegant when the weather turns colder, to shine in autumn and winter too. Pairs beautifully with beef, lamb, pork, and poultry – a characterful companion for any barbecue. A versatile choice that will never disappoint.

Many of our customers already know the Melnik 55 Early Melnik Grape – one of our most admired and best-selling wines from Struma River Valley in Bulgaria. This wine surprises with its elegance, power, fruitiness, soft tannins, and delicious spicy notes – all this in a perfect balance.

Now, we want to take this beautiful wine experience to an even higher level.

Discover Melnik 55 Reserve

More wine pleasure for the true wine lover!

Limited time offer

Enjoy a 10% introductory discount!

From €17,50 for €15,75

TASTING NOTES
Colour: Deep ruby red with garnet hints;
Aroma: Ripe red fruit, black cherry, plum, a refined touch of sweet spices, notes of mocha, leather, and delicate vanilla;
Taste:  Ripe fruit, good structure, perfectly balanced, velvety hint of chocolate and enjoyable spiciness, Soft and elegant  finish. Complex, good concentration, yet with refined tannins and fresh minerality.

For current vintage, alcohol percentage and more details go to the tab Specification. 

HOW TO DRINK IT
Food: smoked chicken, duck, ham, hamburger, lamb (grilled or broiled), pasta with tomato sauce, pates, steak (grilled or broiled), venison, bref, poultry
Cheese: Brie, Camember, Danish Blu, Sharp Cheddar;
Temperature: 16‐18°C

EARLY MELNIK GRAPE

Made from 100% Melnik 55, also known as Early Melnik Grape – the most distinctive local red grape variety from the Struma Valley. This indigenous grape variety was also a favorite of Sir Winston Churchill, who received a yearly supply of Melnik wines for his cellar at 10 Downing Street.

Early Melnik Grape is a Bulgarian grape variety with interesting history. It was created during the 70s of the last century and planted limitedly in the south-west part of Bulgaria. This grape variety was not interesting to the Bulgarian winemakers and was totally forgotten until 1999, when it was vinified professionally for the first time. Nowadays, releasing the full potential of this unique Bulgarian grape is a real challenge for the Bulgarian wine makers.

WINEMAKING

The harvest begins in early October, once the grapes have reached optimal ripeness. The grapes come from low-yield vineyards and are hand-picked into crates. Upon arrival at the winery, they are sorted twice on sorting tables – first the whole clusters, then the individual berries.

Maceration and fermentation take place in new French oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation and ageing last for 24 months in 225-litre French oak barriques. After bottling, the wine is aged for an additional 3 months in the bottle before release.

THE REGION

South Western Region

This Bulgarian wine region includes the southwestern parts of the country. It is not large in size, but it possesses some specific climatic features which are very similar to the Mediterranean regions. Along the valley of the Struma river a unique Bulgarian varietal “Broad Leaved Vine of Melnik” (Shiroka Melnishka) is cultivated for the production of dry and semi-dry wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pamid varietals are also grown in the area. The local wines are characterized by full taste, with spicy southern tones.

THE TOWN OF MELNIK

Melnik is also the name of the smallest Bulgarian town, picturesquely situated amongst a fantastic scenery – strangely shaped pyramids of  sand and limestone. During the 17th -18th century it became a flourishing tobacco and wine-producing center, whose fame spread to many European countries. The beautiful fortress-like houses with broad wine cellars, cut in the limestone rocks date back to this period.