Melnik 55

Siroka Melniska, better known as Melnik, is a native Bulgarian grape variety. It produces wines with excellent aging potential, which are often compared to the infamous Châteauneuf-du-Pape, due to their structured and spicy character. They were considered the favorites of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who annually ordered more than 500 liters of wines made exclusively from this variety for his cellar. Melnik 55 is one of the most awarded examples from Bulgaria, winning medals and awards in every competition. The presentation is also top notch, as the bottle is very charming and some customers have commented that after tasting the wine, they use it as a candlestick and flower vase. The wine is a varietal that has a beautiful bright violet color with silvery halos of youthfulness. When swirling the glass, we notice dense tears that slowly run down, showing that it is a well-structured wine. The nose has an exuberant but delicate attack, with floral notes that fill the room, perfuming the ambiance. Red and black fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and plums soon appear in a sensational festival of aromas that surprises everyone. In the mouth, it is full-bodied, filling the palate, and makes you want to chew it. It is smooth, elegant and has an unparalleled pleasantness that will surprise the most demanding palates. Black fruits and red flowers appear intensely at first, and that alone was enough, but soon spicy touches of chocolate and vanilla are felt, crowning what was already divine. The balance of this example is fantastic, acidity, tannins, alcohol, fruit and wood complement each other perfectly, resulting in a beautiful combination. The finish is delicious, with notes of anise and raspberries ending with a flourish. Pairing: Grilled filet mignon sprinkled with fleur de sel and smoked black pepper, rabbit and wild boar in a pan and shoulder of lamb in the oven with mashed potatoes. It goes very well with richly flavored risottos and pasta with white sauce. If you have time, you can decant it for about 25 minutes, as this will bring out the anise and raspberry notes that you would taste in the glass after leaving it standing for a while with that little bit of wine inside, but it is not mandatory. It is recommended to enjoy it preferably in smooth, crystal-clear, wide-brimmed Bordeaux-style glasses. This wine is ready to drink, but can still be enjoyed at its peak until the end of 2025. It has been our best-seller since we first introduced it, and has been a unanimous choice among consumers since 2017.