09 Jan Melnik Family Tree
Melnik Family Tree embodies our mission to preserve and revive the unique local varieties and make world-class wines from them.
In this blend, we have gathered the entire Melnik family – Shiroka Melnishka Loza, the ancient endemic variety – the mother – and her modern crosses – her children – Melnik 55, Melnik 1300 Jubilee, Rouen, Melnik 82 and Melnik Rubin.
Melnik Family Tree is a project that aims to show the authenticity of the local Shiroka Melnishka vine variety and its newer cross-varieties. In the 1960s dozens of attempts were made to hybridize the vine with other vines with the goal of extending the ripening period until September in order to obtain grape varieties with more saturated color, richer flavor and richer aroma, while preserving the unique characteristics of Shiroka Melnishka Loza. Some of these hybrids have become widely known such as Melnik 55, while others are less known and somewhat forgotten.
Our 2019 blend has a base of 30% Shiroka Melnishka Loza (the founder of the family), 25% Melnik 55 – a cross between Shiroka Melnishka and the french Valdigier variety, 25% Melnik 1300 Jubilee – a cross between Shiroka Melnishka and Georgian Saperavi variety, 10% Melnik 82 (Shiroka Melnishka hybridized with French Cabernet Sauvignon, Jurancon, Valdigier, Durif), 5% Ruen (Shiroka Melnishka hybridized with Cabernet Sauvignon) and 5% Melnishki Rubin (different Shiroka Melnishka hybrid with Cabernet Sauvignon).
Melnik Family Tree is a medium bodied wine, elegant and well balanced. Aroma of pine, spruce, juniper. Ripe and juicy wine with flavor of red fruits such as cherries and sour cherries and fruit pits.
We made this blend two vintages in a row in a limited series of 400 bottles. From the third vintage, 2019, we produced 1200 bottles.
Our vintage 2018 Melnik Family Tree is in the TOP 10 Limited Series Wines for 2020 judged by DiVino. We are expecting that our excellent 2019 vintage will also receive high appraisal.
Single variety wines from Melnik 1300 Jubilee; Ruen; as well as Shiroka Melnishka Loza, grown in the traditional way, can be found in our “Rare Varieties” series in the “Special wines” section of our online store.
We also have Melnik 55 varietal wine in our Aplauz and Premium Aplauz series.
Clicking the links will take you to our online store.