
Made at the new 15 million U.S. dollar Blueridge Winery, the Blueridge Merlot, 2000 is the first vintage of this wine. The wine combines the long history of Bulgarian wine production with the sophisticated technology and creativity of Australian winemaking. Under the guidance of Diana Davison, former head wine-maker at Penfolds in Australia, Blueridge Winery makes some of the most exciting wines from Eastern Europe. The Blueridge Merlot, 2000 is a medium weight wine with a pleasantly dark red-purple color and soft scents of dark berries. On the palate, the soft Merlot fruit with overtones of plums is quite pleasing. The tannins are well structured giving the wine a more serious character. Many cheap Merlots, especially New World Merlots, are merely fruit bombs. This wine is not; it has structure and character. Enjoy this wine with all kinds of meat and cheese dishes. Serve at 16℃.

John H. Isacs