Mavrud & Rubin

 



This bottle of Bulgarian wine is made from two indigenous grapes, Mavrud and Rubin. Mavrud is a highly esteemed Bulgarian grape native to Kara Thrace in Bulgaria. It is a late ripening grape of low yields of small berries which gives tannic spicy wines capable of aging. Rubin was created in Bulgaria in the 1940s by crossing Syrah with Nebbiolo. It produces dark wines with good fruit, balanced acidity and tannins and medium to high alcohol. It tends to be high yielding which needs management, and it has good disease resistance. The above wine was a deep ruby, with a sweet fruity nose reminiscent of Ribena, but with a touch of acid. The palate was sweet acid fruity and tannic, with the acid and tannins continuing as a good backbone in support of the wine.