Georgiev / Milkov, Rubin Brestovitsa 2023, Thracian Valley, Bulgaria

Petar Georgiev and Radostin Milkov are another pair of young winemakers leading the charge in the new wave of Bulgarian winemaking with a passion for bringing indigenous Bulgarian grapes the spotlight they deserve. They've gained experience all over the winemaking world including Petar's stint with Arndorfer in Kamptal, Austria and Alan Scott in Marlborough This wealth of experience has prepared them for their own project in 2014 around Plovdiv in the foothills of the Rhodopi mountains. 

Rubin is an indigenous Bulgarian with two noble parents as a cross between Nebbiolo and Syrah and is one of Bulgaria's prize grapes. It has an incredibly short ripening window where it can go from unripe to overripe in a single week and its properties change significantly across this period so is challenging yet fascinating to work with. 

The grapes come from over 40 year old vines on a single vineyard in the near the village of Brestovitsa, 300m above sea level. They're handpicked and undergo cold maceration for six days before a long spontaneous fermentation. The wine is then split between Bulgarian and French oak barrels for ten months ageing before being bottled without fining or filtration. Elegant and full bodied with pronounced raspberries and cherries interwoven with grippy tannins alongside dark chocolate and spice. Great with beef or venison.

Producer - Georgiev / Milkov
Country - Bulgaria
Region - Thracian Valley
Sub-Region - Brestovitsa, Plovdiv
Variety / Blend - Rubin
Wine Style - Red Wine
Farming - Sustainable 
Vegan