Cheval de Katarzyna - Merlot

Vintage: 2021
Type: Dry red wine
Variety: 100% Merlot
Date of harvest: 2021.08.30-2021.09.07.
Manual harvest in cassettes. Careful grape picking and grape selection.
Grapes maturity: 25.50 BRIX
Alcohol by volume: 14.5%

Ageing: 6 months for 35% of the batch. French oak barriques, 225 L
Aging potential in bottle: 5 years
Bottle: "Conica Legera / UVAG", 0.750 L

Producer: Katarzyna
Region: Thracian Valley, Southern Bulgaria, Protected Geographical Indication.
The grapes come from Katarzyna Estate's own vineyards at the hilly border zone terrains between Bulgaria and Greece (the No Man's Land) in the outskirts of the east slopes of Rhodope mountain with average altitude of 187-210 m. Only few miles away from the most famous Thracian Tomb Mezzek (4th century BC), Katarzyna Estate wines benefit from he unique micro climate, most diverse soils, exciting scenery and meticulous varietal selection, which together with the inspired and dedicated work of the winemakers give birth to White Soil varietals, the hallmark wines of the whole region.

Vinification: Before processing the grapes are cooled in a freezing chamber for about 20h at a temperature 10- 12 ̊С. The grapes are then sorted, destemmed and crushed. The alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks of 100 and 150hL. The process includes maceration with the grape skins at 7-10 ̊С between 7 and 10 days, fermentation at 27-29 ̊С between 7 and 9 days and postfermentative maceration with the solids to 6 days at 26-28 ̊С. For the malo-lactic fermentation the wine is transferred in French oak barrels of 225 L, then 35% of the blend ages in oak barrels for 6 months.