Abrau-Durso Unveils Alexey Chernega's First Original Wine in the Premium Collection of Still Wines

Abrau-Durso presents a specialty in the premium collection of still wines under the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)— the debut original "Merlot Abrau-Durso", created under the guidance of winemaker Alexey Chernega. The limited release continues the philosophy of exclusivity inherent in the entire collection.

In an era when balance and depth are increasingly appreciated in the world of wine, the choice of Merlot for the author's debut is deliberate. This variety, famous for its silky and nuanced character, is experiencing a real renaissance. "Merlot Abrau-Durso" is becoming an accurate response to modern demand— it impresses not with the power of tannins, but with its harmonious structure, freshness and complexity.

The Abrau-Durso terroir is unique: marl-limestone soils, mild climate and a special wind rose that brings the scents of the foothills of the Caucasus and the freshness of the emerald-green lake. Here, the classic Bordeaux variety — Merlot— reveals its mild character with a special depth and structure. The climatic conditions of the area contribute to the stable achievement of phenolic ripeness of berries, allowing to create unique wines with good structure and balance.

The mild and nuanced character of the variety is revealed thanks to precise vinification, aging in oak and a reverential attitude to details. During production, the saignée method, or "bloodletting" is used: at an early stage of maceration, 15–20% of the juice is drawn off, increasing the concentration of must. This allows to get a richer wine. "Merlot Abrau-Durso" was aged in old and new French barriques for 12 months. Thoughtful work with barrels of various passages allowed the oak to be integrated as delicately as possible, it does not dominate, but emphasizes the varietal profile, body and style of the wine. New barrels (20%) were used in the masterful aging process, as well as those of second (30%), third (30%) and fourth (20%) passages. They were personally selected by Alexey Chernega and Georges Blanc, Head of Winemaking at Abrau-Durso.

The new "Merlot Abrau-Durso" is distinguished by its restraint and elegance. The wine conquers with its noble ruby color with velvety iridescences. The rich bouquet is full of flavors of ripe plums and black currants with light hints of cocoa and sweet tobacco. Aging in oak has added the characteristic notes of vanilla to the composition of the wine. The tannin structure is delicate, with a slight roughness— one of the markers of ageability. Berry richness and vibrant acidity turn into a long spicy aftertaste. Despite all the expressiveness today, the wine will reach its peak in three to five years, when the tannins soften and the palate gains even greater velvetiness and perfect balance. "Merlot Abrau-Durso" will be of interest to both sophisticated connoisseurs and those who are just beginning to immerse themselves in the world of enology.

"For me, the Abrau-Durso terroir is not just about soil and climate. It is about people and their decisions: how we work with the vine, at what point we harvest, how carefully we process the grapes and in which barrels we age the wine. I immediately believed in the potential of Merlot, which shows excellent results in the vineyards in Abrau-Durso. It was important for me to preserve the strength and richness of the variety, but at the same time not to make it heavier. This is a wine with a bright berry base, depth and energy, and it will be interesting to observe its development over time," comments Alexey Chernega, Head of Abrau-Durso Still Wines.

The premium collection of still wines "Abrau-Durso" under the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) was first presented in 2018. It included single-varietal wines from classic European varieties growing on the shores of Lake Abrau: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling and Pinot Noir.

"Merlot Abrau-Durso" is an up-to-date interpretation of a classic variety that combines power and freshness, maturity and dynamics, and reflects the modern philosophy of Abrau-Durso winemaking.

"Merlot Abrau-Durso" was released in a limited quantity of 8,500 bottles. The specialty is already available in the Wine Atelier in Moscow and the restaurants of the 1870 Abrau-Durso chain at a price of RUB1,649 per bottle.

Additional information:

Russian PDO aged dry red wine "Merlot Abrau-Durso".

Grapes: 100% Merlot.

Age: 12 months in French oak (20% new, 80% barrels of 2nd-4th passages).

Alcohol: 12%.

Recommended serving temperature: 16–18°C.

Dry red wine with a deep and rich ruby shade. The flavor has hints of ripe plum, black currant, sweet tobacco, light nuances of cocoa and vanilla. The taste is rich with soft silky tannins and vibrant acidity. The aftertaste is long, warm, spicy and berry. Wine with potential for development. It will perfectly complement steaks, poultry dishes and aged cheeses.