Zagreus Minimum Mavrud 2019 Thracian Lowlands

The region of Assenovgrad on the Thracian plain is the natural home of Bulgaria's signature red grape mavrud. This wine is a passion project for the director of Zagreus winery, Dimitar Konstadinov, to explore mavrud's full potential and a mere 600 bottles were made. Comparing it to more familiar styles, Priorat comes to mind thanks to masses of blueberry and cherry fruit, liqueur-like in concentration without being heavy or cloying. Open top fermentation with punching down done by hand, and no added SO2 or yeast. Vermouth-like herbal notes penetrate the rich black fruit before notes of dark chocolate and espresso kick in. Intense and inviting.