Vachnadziani Saperavi Classical 2020

Georgia is only a small country but one with a rich wine history and it's good to see more of their wines finding their way over here. It's made from 100% Saperavi, an ancient, dark skinned and pink fleshed variety and the most planted red grape in the Caucasus region and which produces richly coloured wines with good acidity. The grapes were hand harvested and fermented in stainless steel with a small proportion being aged in French oak for a period of eight months. The result is a wine wine inviting aromas of wild berry, spice and toasty notes which lead to a beautifully balanced palate full of smoky ripe flavours of plum and rich, earthy notes.

Nicely full bodied with plenty of oomph it'll go well with many things from game and hearty stews right through to smoky barbecued meats.

Georgia, situated between the Black Sea and the Caucasus mountains, has, possibly, the longest history of vine cultivation and wine making of any country in the world. And since emerging from the Soviet era in the late 1990's the country's wines are now becoming familiar sights on wine merchant's lists worldwide. Kakheti in eastern Georgia is the most important wine region and it's here where Vachnadziani, in the village of the same name, is found. In 2007, one of the country's larger wineries, Khareba, acquired the estate and invested significantly in modernising its facilities. Led by winemaker Vladimer Kublashvili, they focus on creating wines from indigenous varieties, blending ancient wine culture with modern technology. These are high-quality wines at modest prices.