Domaine Bessa Valley ‘Grande Cuvee’ 2017

Merlot 25 %
Syrah 21 %
Petit Verdot 25 %
Cabernet Sauvignon 29 %

Aging in French oak barrels: 100% new oak

Domaine Bessa Valley is located about 150 km southeast of the capital Sofia, near the village of Ognyanovo. The valley borders with the Rhodope Mountains on the South and with hills of 230 m above sea level on the North, which offers an ideal location. The soils are predominantly clay and limestone. The added benefit is the temperature regulating influence of the Maritsa River, which flows a few kilometers away. The wines from these great clay-limestone soils provide power and structure, but also good acidity and minerality to the wines. A very particular attention was paid to the selection of rootstocks, well-suited to the type of soils it has been planted on. Merlot is the majority (53%) of the vineyards, with the other vineyards with Syrah (25%), Petit Verdot (12%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) occupying the upper parts of the hills.

Grande Cuvee 2016 is a strictly limited wine from the best Merlot barriques of the estate, rounded off with a touch of Petit Verdot, the fruitiness of Cabernet Sauvignon, and the added elegance of Syrah. Discover here a deep, multi-layered and uncommonly Bulgarian growth of great radiance and finesse. A masterpiece to be aged and enjoyed!

Deep ruby in color, this wine offers aromas of cherry, blackberry and tobacco. Generous and round in the mouth, it has flavors of black cherry and pipe tobacco with an evenly weighted balance of velvety tannins and bright acidity.

Wine Enthusiast 91