Wine tasting in restaurant IMES on 08 May 2008
 - by Willy 

1. rovin Winery

Riesling 2006

This attractive light golden colour with no green hints is very atypical to me and resembles more Sauvignon like, nevertheless it offers up aromas of zesty green apple, goose berries, citrus fruits and crisp minerals. Fresh but a little acidic towards the finish. Good summer wine. Drink it early and well chilled. Price quality mucho OK.

Chardonnay 2006

Identical in colour as the Riesling. Likewise I have difficulties to recognise the typical Chardonnay characteristics in this wine. A light lemony white fruit nose with orange zest apricot citrus fruits on the palate.  Like the Riesling a grippy presence followed by a touch of bitterness.  Honest priced interesting drink.  Best now.

Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

A seductive blackberry nose light on sweet vanilla and fresh green peppers. Gentle moderately concentrated yet classic rather firm tannined dark berry fruited palate, but still a fine composition. Quite dry and lively acidity on the finish. Though overall good style. Needs food.  Pretty quality drink.

Vranec 2006

More vibrant dark colour which goes with the grain somewhat. Evolved nose here pronouncing black jammy forest fruits. Very claretty in taste displaying some pleasingly appealing spicy ripe black berry, plum, currant fruit core.  Nice acidity and although quite some alcohol it finishes very gentle. Well structured. Good impact.

2. GJORCEV Winery

Merlot 2004

Deep brilliant ruby.  Elegant liquorice red berry cherry nose with subtle undergrowth. Excellent intense ripe red fruit, black berries and cherries. Rich but surprisingly dry. A tingle of green leaf which I didn’t found disturbing and harmonious well integrated tannins.  Bracing acidity and balance. Seductive.

 Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
 
Slightly more deep in colour than the Merlot. Young appearance with lovely bright natural Cabernet perfumes of black fruit, black pepper and some delicate sweet vanilla. Good depth of concentrated black berry cherry fruit stuffed with green fresh crushed paprika. Fresh acidity and linen-textured tannins. Smooth. A mouthful. 

Vranec 2003

Deep bright purple with no trace of age. Warm and sumptuous nose with hints of plums black berries and a delicate spicy leaf of mint. Quite juicy and succulent with good fleshy layers of rounded ripe black berry plum fruit and a knife point of cacao.  Enough black fruit to last.  Polished and well integrated tannins. Graceful, smooth and elegant.

3. Grkov Winery

Pinot Noir 2004

Moderately transparent brilliant red with a mahogany tinge of age on the edges. An elegant cooked fruit and delicate complex mocha mushroom truffle scented nose. My friend Thomas referred to a pinot noir from the famous German “Ahr” region and I fully agree.  There is depth Length and harmony in this fully delicious matured red berry fruit sumptuous Pinot Noir. Absolutely needs a lot of air time to fully develop.  Excellent first vintage. Kudos.

Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

A brilliant dark red purple wine that gives an attractive refined Cabernet styled nose.  Well proportioned dry deep ripe black currant, berry and raspberry fruit with judicious hints of black pepper, fresh green paprika, liquorice and very delicate drop of mint. Firm lingering tannins and lively acidity. Ambitious.

Dijon 2004

Made from 80% Cab, 10% Merlot and 10% Vranec this is a deep and dark almost black wine.  Expressive well integrated oaky bouquet of earth graphite, lots of dark forest plum cherry fruits, fresh pepper and sweet vanilla.  A full concentrated style with depth of Cabernet dominated fruits, full tannins nicely integrated oak and plenty of beautiful black and green crushed pepper. Excellent weight good freshness and powerful finish. Present acidity. Needs time in the bottle.  A great future.

4. KABRANOV PRIVATE DISTILLERY

Negotinska 2005

I’m not much of a liquor drinker but this is good stuff.  One time distilled from Vranec, Kartosija and Cabernet this 43% Zolta was aged in new Berovo oak.  Deep golden in colour this beauty boosts a very open nose of banana, hazelnut, toffee, caramel and honey aromas. The palate is soft, sweet and smooth. Very Cognac like.  Bravo.

Negotinska GOLD 2004

Beautiful stylish modern pyramid bottle. This burnished orange golden nectar twice distilled and aged for three years in new 1000 litres Berovo oak barrels offers an intense rich nose challenging a good single malt whiskey with on the palate plenty of sweet vanilla, a drop of lemon, beeswax, mocha, wheat’s, caramel and wild honey.  43% . Great harmony.  An angel p….on my tongue.
You need to taste it to believe it.  Immense pleasure.