Vachnadziani Saperavi 2023

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. After hand harvesting fermentation took place in stainless steel to preserve all the bright, primary fruit flavours within. It's a deeply coloured mellow and savoury wine, offering vibrant aromas of wild berries and red plums. On the palate it's smooth, with soft tannins and a good balancing acidity followed by an attractive hint of spice on the finish.

A really bright and brisk mouthful perfect for things like pizza and pasta, or all by itself.

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.