Melnik Family Tree
Variety: Blend of Shiroka Melnik (Broadleaf Melnik) Bush Vine, Melnik 1300 Jubilee, Melnik 55, Melnik Rubin, Melnik 82, Ruen
Current Vintage: 2023
Alcohol: 14,5%
Limited Batch: 3600 bottles
Vinification: The wine is made from carefully selected grapes from our own vineyard and matured for 12 months in Bulgarian oak barrels.
Characteristics:
This wine embodies our mission – to preserve and revive unique local grape varieties and produce world-class wines from them. Melnik Family Tree stands out with a medium-intense, beautiful red color. The nose is harmonious and multi-layered, revealing noble notes of moss, resin, and autumn leaves, intertwined with hints of blackberry and tobacco. The palate is dense, structured, and rounded, yet balanced and complex, with accents of black cherry, rosehip, and pepper. A long and memorable finish makes this wine a noble representative of the Melnik varietal family.
Nikola’s favorite wines
To celebrate the spring festivities – Lazarus Day, Easter, and St. George’s Day – the founder of the winery, Nikola Zikatanov, has personally curated a selection of his rarest, limited-edition wines.
Two of the wines belong to the Aplauz Premium Reserve series – boutique, single-varietal wines bottled from a single barrel. This is the finest barrel of the vintage, hand-picked by the owner for its exceptional quality.
The remaining wines are from the “Rare Varieties” series, embodying Villa Melnik’s mission to preserve and revive the unique indigenous grapes of the Melnik region.
These wines have aged for 12 to 18 months in Bulgarian and French oak barrels within our cool cellar, carved deep into the natural Melnik sandstone. They are a true delight for the senses, impressive in their uniqueness, and perfectly suited for special occasions or as a distinguished addition to any serious wine collection.
The selection includes:
- Aplauz Premium Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
- Aplauz Premium Reserve Merlot
- RARE VARIETIES – Ruen
- RARE VARIETIES – Melnik 1300 Jubilee
- RARE VARIETIES – Melnik 82
- RARE VARIETIES – Shiroka Melnishka Loza (Broad-Leaved Melnik Vine) – Gobelet (Bush Vine)
APLAUZ PREMIUM RESERVE MERLOT
Variety: Merlot
Current Vintage: 2020
Alcohol:14 %
Limited edition: 850 bottles
Vinification: Made from carefully selected grapes, aged 18 months in Bulgarian oak barrels.
Characteristics: Powerful and seductive, this Merlot combines a deep, almost opaque color with intense aromas of dark fruits, mocha, vanilla, and toasted wood. Its rich flavor, accented by notes of roasted meat and spicy herbs, leads into a long, dry finish – a wine of remarkable structure and great aging potential.
Aplauz MAGUM 1.5L Melnik 55
Variety: Melnik 55
Current Vintage: 2021
Alcohol:15 %
Characteristics:
Our Magnum bottles (1.5 L) embody the very best of Villa Melnik – exceptional red wines crafted with care, passion, and attention to every detail.
The wines stand out with full body, intense aromas, and remarkable depth of flavor. Thanks to the slower evolution in the larger bottle, Magnum wines reveal elegance, harmony, and longevity.
Created in limited quantities, Magnum bottles are the perfect choice for special occasions, collectors, and connoisseurs seeking something truly remarkable.
Aplauz MAGUM 1.5L Melnik Blend
Variety: Melnik 1300 Jubilee, Melnik 55, Merlot
Current Vintage: 2020
Alcohol:14 %
Characteristics:
Our Magnum bottles (1.5 L) embody the very best of Villa Melnik – exceptional red wines crafted with care, passion, and attention to every detail.
The wines stand out with full body, intense aromas, and remarkable depth of flavor. Thanks to the slower evolution in the larger bottle, Magnum wines reveal elegance, harmony, and longevity.
Created in limited quantities, Magnum bottles are the perfect choice for special occasions, collectors, and connoisseurs seeking something truly remarkable.
Bergule – Rose
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Syrah 35%, Merlot 15%, Broadleaf Melnik (Shiroka Melnik) Vine 10%
Current Vintage: 2024
Alcohol:13 %
Region: Vinogradi village, PGI Melnik
Vinification: Grapes for the rosé are harvested two weeks earlier than for reds to preserve higher acidity and freshness. The varieties ferment separately in stainless steel, and blending is done after fermentation.
Characteristics: A wine that captivates with its delicate pink color and refined charm. Its fresh and intense aroma reveals forest strawberries, sweet peach, moss, and subtle herbal notes. On the palate it is juicy, fresh, and well-balanced, with a refreshing finish.
Bergulé – Cuvee
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon – 40%, Syrah – 40%, Merlot – 20%
Current Vintage: 2021
Alcohol:14.5 %
Region: Vinogradi village, PGI Melnik
Vinification: Fermented in stainless steel, no oak aging.
Characteristics: Deep garnet color. Impressive and layered nose that reveals great depth. On the palate – juicy, firm, elegant, and lively, with medium structure, excellent freshness, and balance. Long and noble finish.
Family Tradition – Cuvée
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Broadleaf Melnik (Shiroka Melnik) Vine
Current Vintage: 2021
Alcohol:14,5 %
Region: Vinogradi village, PGI Melnik
Vinification: Wine made from carefully selected grapes, fermented in stainless steel.
Characteristics: With a deep ruby color and elegant aromas of blackcurrant, black pepper, and a fine leather note, this wine offers a classic taste in a modern expression. Light to medium-bodied with a soft, memorable finish – a perfect choice for light dinners and everyday enjoyment.
AplauZ – Merlot, Reserve
Variety: Merlot
Current Vintage: 2020
Alcohol:14 %
Vinification: Made from carefully selected grapes, aged 18 months in Bulgarian oak barrels.
Characteristics: Merlot thrives in our region, where the warmth and sun bring ripeness, softness, and character. Deep dark ruby color, with seductive aromas of black fruits, cocoa, coffee, and toasted oak. The palate is velvety, with ripe tannins, hints of vanilla, and smoky oak.
