The Vini "Veni, Vidi, Vici" Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rosé, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from the Thracian Valley, Bulgaria.
Today we have six wines imported by Bulgarian Master Vintners, and while Bulgaria may not be the first country to come to mind when you think of wine, there are a lot of surprisingly good things happening these days in the old Eastern Bloc countries. (In fact we'll be checking out some of these things first hand in Slovenia in a few weeks.) Let's take a look at these six, which all sell for well under $10.
From the bottles:
"Since we haven't seen you in Bulgaria lately, we've brought you some of the finest local flavors. Indulge in this ancient grape growing region. Historically a purveyor to Rome, it's a focal point of today's pioneering winemakers.
All wines are 12.5% - 13.0% alcohol."
First up is the 2011 VINI Pinot Noir, which has an SRP of $9 and is available at that price. Sample submitted for review.
The 2011 VINI Pinot Noir begins with aromas of red cherry, a bit of a green component and a hint of chocolate. Tasting this medium-bodied wine reveals bright fruit (mostly red and black cherry) along with a bit of black tea that flows into the medium long finish which also features some smoky tobacco notes at the very end. Tasty and easy to drink.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Overall Rating: 7.3
Recommended Buy
Up next is the 2009 VINI Cabernet Sauvignon which has an SRP of $8 and is available at that price. Sample submitted for review.
The 2009 VINI Cabernet Sauvignon begins with pleasant aromas of red berry and red cherry. Tasting the wine reveals a smooth drinker featuring sweet fruit and soft tannins. You'll also find a little black pepper and black tea. It ends with sour fruit on the medium length finish.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Overall Rating: 7.5
Recommended Buy
Third is the 2009 VINI Merlot. It has an SRP of $8 and is available at that price. Sample submitted for review.
The 2009 VINI Merlot begins with pleasant aromas of plum, blackberry and a little bit of smoky spice. This medium to full-bodied wine is quite easy to drink and features dark fruit with a bit of sweet tart candy. It also has soft, and even a bit dusty, tannins. The fruit turns rather sour on the medium length, dry finish.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Overall Rating: 7.5
Recommended Buy
Fourth is the 2011 VINI Rosé, a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Syrah. It has an SRP of $9 and is available for as low as $8. Sample submitted for review.
The 2011 VINI Rosé begins with pleasant aromas of strawberry and tomato. The wine tastes zesty and fresh with very nice minerality. It's not sweet, but has plenty of good fruit and good length on the finish. A nice dry rosé at a fabulous price.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Overall Rating: 7.5
Recommended Buy
Fifth is the 2011 VINI Chardonnay. It has an SRP of $9 and is available for as low as $8. Sample submitted for review.
The 2011 VINI Chardonnay begins with pleasant aromas of lemon zest, apple and pear. The wine tastes nice and crisp -- there's no overbearing oak or butter in this light, refreshing wine. Flavors of pineapple, a little zesty lemon and apple with some underlying minerality help make this wine a good match for seafood. It ends crisp and dry.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Overall Rating: 7.5
Lastly we have the 2011 VINI Sauvignon Blanc. It has an SRP of $9 and is available for as low as $7. Sample submitted for review.
The 2011 VINI Sauvignon Blanc begins with aromas of apple, lime and maybe a touch of cinnamon and vanilla. Tasting the wine reveals really light flavors, good acidity and no grassiness or herbaceousness. This is a quaffer for a hot day and should appeal to mass market Pinot Grigio lovers. It ends crisp and clean with surprising length.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Overall Rating: 7.5
