Exploring Bulgarian wine (9) Aya Estate
Website: https://ayaestatevineyards.com/en/
Aya is a boutique winery in the Struma Valley. They have two vineyards. The first is Harsovo, near the winery and the town of Melnik, where they have a warm climate and grow Melnik, Cabernet Franc, Cinsualt, Syrah and Grenache, among others. There are 35 hectares here in the Struma River Valley. Some of these are old vines.
Then quite a distance away on the Black Sea Coast they have a cool climate vineyard where they grow whites and Pinot Noir, on 10 hectares. They first planted this in 2014. Both sites are farmed biodynamically.
They have 45 hectares of vines altogether, and production is 250 000 bottles annually. I tasted these wines on two occasions, once in London, once in Bulgaria, and both times with Sylvia Taskova, who is in charge of export sales.
Aya Estate Ayano White 2023 Bulgaria
12.3% alcohol. This is 41% Viognier, 33% Marsanne, 17% Roussanne and 9% Chardonnay, from the Struma Valley. The grapes are co-fermented. Juicy, bright and linear with lovely citrussy fruit and a nice tart, slightly pithy edge. Pure and elegant. 90/100
Aya Estate Shiroka Melnishka Loza 2021 Bulgaria
12.8% alcohol. This is from the Struma Valley, and this grape is also referred to as broadleaf Melnik. Juicy, fresh and supple. Quite fine with an attractive savoury, woody edge with some aniseed notes. Real finesse, with a pleasant sour cherry finish. 93/100
Aya Estate Colorito 2021 Bulgaria
13.5% alcohol. A blend of 70% Shiroka Melnishka Loza and 30% Pinot Noir, from both vineyard sites. Juicy and focused with lovely red cherry and raspberry fruit, with some pepper spice and a nice grainy savoury character. Nice grip here: an elegant, medium-bodied red with nice balance and focus. 92/100
Aya Estate Colorito 2022 Bulgaria
12.8% alcohol. Supple and juicy with red cherries and plums, as well as good acidity. Linear and bright with good energy and firm structure. Nice red fruits and spice. 93/100
Aya Estate Early Melnik 2022 Bulgaria
13.5% alcohol. Complex, slightly wild raspberry and cherry fruit with a sour cherry edge and nice grippiness. This has a nice savoury twist with good acidity and some grippy tannins. 93/100
Aya Estate Disegno Petit Manseng Late Harvest 2021 Bulgaria
From the north east of Bulgaria where they have 1 hectare of Petit Manseng planted on black earth soils. This is picked in December (at pH 2.95), with no botrytis this year (although there is some occasionally). There’s lovely matchstick reduction on the nose with sweet pear and peach fruit, as well as some apricot and spice. The palate has amazing spicy character with marmalade, apricot and popcorn characters. 94/100
BULGARIAN WINE EXPLORATION
