Tried this wine ystrday afternoon:
1. Bulgariana CabSauv/Syrah ThracianVlly/Bulgaria (14%; www.telish.bg) B by Telish jsco/CastraRubra; Imported by G&B Importers/Bethesda 2009: Very dark color; strong plummy/blackcurranty/CS slight meaty/smoked meat/BBQ some earthy/loamy bit coarse/rustic rather clean/modern somewhat interesting nose; soft/lush rather earthy/loamy/coarse strong plummy/black curranty/licorice/DrPepper bit smoked briskit/BBQ/ArthurBryants smooth/modern flavor w/ light/polished tannins; med.long soft bit tannic/coarse/rough strong lush/ripe/plummy/blackcurranty/CS slight BBQ/DrPepper/smoked meat finish; a rather interesting wine but pretty mordern in style. $13.00 (AV)
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Brian at ArroyoVino was eager to point out this new Bulgarian wine that just landed on his shelf....knowing I couldn't resist. OK....Bulgarian wine....had nothing but trash from Bulgaria...but if Brian put it on his shelf...it must be good. He was, of course, right on. It was pretty delish stuff at a very good price. But I'd have to question why one would buy this wine at $13, when you can get a very good Cab/Syrah blend from PasoRobles for only $60?? Makes no sense.
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2. This is exactly the kind of wine I warned against in my last LocalFlavor article. It is quite a polished/modern style of wine...maybe too polished. Consulting winemaker is....TaDa....MichelRoland. And it shows in the wine. Does the wine world really need another Cab blend...even if it's from the ThracianVlly?? Whatsa matter w/ Pamid, Gamza, Dimyat, Mavrud, RedMiskit, Shiroka Melnishka Loza?? All local/indigenous grapes. If you look at the Telish WebSite, it's loaded w/ Merlot/Cab/Syrah/Chard/PinotNoir. What a friggin' waste. Thank you, MichelRoland. End of rant!!
Tom