ReDark 2005

Damianitza (Дамяница)

Country:

Bulgaria (България) 

2005

Other vintages: 

2004 [93]

 2006 [100]

 2007

 2008

Cabernet Sauvignon (Каберне Совиньон)

Ruen (Руен)

Rubin (Рубин)

Damianitza’s ReDark Vintage 2005 was awarded a Silver Medal at the Vinalies Internationales 2008 wine contest.

“This recognition is extremely valuable to Damianitza because the unique Bulgarian grape varieties Ruen and Rubin were used with this vintage of the wine for the first time”, says winery owner Philip Harmandjiev.

Vinalies Internationales is held by the French Association of Winemakers. This year, nearly 3,000 wines from 36 countries participated in the contest. Bulgaria was represented through 18 wines; four received silver medals.

ReDark belongs to the ultra premium wine category and has been known to wine connoisseurs since the spring of 2002 when the first vintage under the brand – ReDark Merlot 2000 – was launched on the Bulgarian market. “Bulgaria’s first ever icon wine, the dramatic Redark from Damianitza”, Dr Caroline Gilby MW wrote in an article for Decanter, the prestigious journal. Indeed, it is not by chance that the wine has received medals in competitions all over the world:
Bronze – International Wine and Spirits Competition, London 2002 (Vintage 2000)
Silver – International Wine Challenge, London 2003 (2001)
Gold – Mundus Vini, Germany 2005 (2001)
Silver – Vinalies Internationales, Paris 2008 (2005)

ReDark 2005

The aim of this wine is to achieve a balance in an opulent and juicy body, flavored with the exotic character of the local, unique Bulgarian grape varieties. For the first time there is a mix of international and local varieties – it is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Ruen (30%), Rubin (10%) and Merlot (5%).

2005 was a year of moderate summer temperatures and high humidity. We decided to limit yields and achieve concentrated fruit and ripe, but not stressed, tannins. The grapes were hand-picked at the end of September and in the beginning of October.

The vinification began in stainless steel fermenters under temperature control and with prolonged skin maceration. The malolactic fermentation took place in barrels. The wine was then matured for 10 months in barriques. The blending was carried out in stainless steel tanks. Тhe wine was bottled in mid-2007 without filtration and additional manipulations. This gentle approach helped to retain its best qualities.

Our winemaking approach focused on the amalgamation of a rich, luscious body with the colourful character of some unique Bulgarian varieties.

The grape variety Rubin is a crossing between Nebbiolo and Syrah; it was created in 1944 and was recognized as a grape variety in 1961.
The grape variety Ruen is a crossing between Shiroka Melnishka Loza and Cabernet Sauvignon which was recognized as a grape variety in 1964. It is grown on very small areas in the Struma river valley.