Inky black color; dark chocolate, dark fruits on the nose; very ripe cherry, blueberry, blackcurrant, black olive, Macedonian oak on the palate; full body, dense in the mouth, dark power, soft tannin, some acidity on the finish.
Serious wine, far different experience from soft California merlot; this has much more chocolate and mouth-filling dark fruits, flirts with being cherry-blueberry jam. Bovin was one of the first privately built wineries in Macedonia, established in 1998.
Bovin strives to run with the big dogs—it’s opening vintage was 120,000 bottles, since increased to more than one million. Bovin harvests classic varieties such as merlot and cabernet sauvignon, but they also make wines with exotic indigenous grapes such as vranec and dissan.
Many don’t know where Macedonia is located; Philip of Macedon may be most famous son—conqueror of much of Greece in the mid 300 BCs and father of Alexander the Great. Find it and give it a try for a tasty, unique merlot experience. $25
Wines of Macedonia website
Second photo: map of Macedonia
