I got three samples of Georgian wine recently and knowing diddly squat about this nation's winemaking history, I reached for my Wine Encyclopedia. In there, there was one paragraph.
"Georgia has one of the oldest winemaking traditions in the world. There is evidence that the first vines could have spread from here or, at least, been preserved in this area during the last major ice age. Georgia has numerous valleys, each with its own favourable microclimate, and it is said that they contain 1,000 indigenous grape varieties. This should one day propel this country to the forefront of the East European wine scene, but isolated pockets of enthusiasm have yet to be translated into a solid range of quality wines on the shelf." Tom Stevenson from The Sotherby's Wine Encyclopedia
So I needed to go to Wikipedia... I know, it isn't the best source for information, but in the absence of anything else, I did more reading there, so rather than rehash it all, I suggest you just follow this link!
The wines I tried were all single varietal wines from Chateau Mukhrani. The first thing I noticed was that they were all twelve-ish percent alcohol, and this could be a big selling point for these wines. Long gone are the days when Bordeaux or Australian wines were at this strength, so for those people who want lower strength wines - and there are lots - the Eastern block may be able to produce them. Secondly, this country, with its own grape varieties, offer the true wine geek the chance to experience so many new styles of wine. Sure, like any wine producing nation, there is going to be some rubbish, but from trying these three wines shows that there is promise.
2009 Chateau Mukhrani Mtsvane
Made from the grape called Mtsvane, meaning 'new, young and green', this wine really does what it says on the tin! It is a young drinking, fresh wine but with a bit of complexity to it. There is a sweet fresh pineapple on the nose followed by a little bit of bacon fat. Then there is some citrus notes and a bit of beeswax - always a clean crisp element and then some fatter aroma. Pineapple and a little bit of lemon on the palate, nice balance at first, then some alcohol heat in the mid palate but it calms down. There is a nice forward fruit component and some more of the wax on the finish with a little bit of burnt match, but rather tasty and worth the £13 you will pay for it. 7/10
2009 Chateau Mukhrani Rkatsiteli
"Georgia has one of the oldest winemaking traditions in the world. There is evidence that the first vines could have spread from here or, at least, been preserved in this area during the last major ice age. Georgia has numerous valleys, each with its own favourable microclimate, and it is said that they contain 1,000 indigenous grape varieties. This should one day propel this country to the forefront of the East European wine scene, but isolated pockets of enthusiasm have yet to be translated into a solid range of quality wines on the shelf." Tom Stevenson from The Sotherby's Wine Encyclopedia
So I needed to go to Wikipedia... I know, it isn't the best source for information, but in the absence of anything else, I did more reading there, so rather than rehash it all, I suggest you just follow this link!
The wines I tried were all single varietal wines from Chateau Mukhrani. The first thing I noticed was that they were all twelve-ish percent alcohol, and this could be a big selling point for these wines. Long gone are the days when Bordeaux or Australian wines were at this strength, so for those people who want lower strength wines - and there are lots - the Eastern block may be able to produce them. Secondly, this country, with its own grape varieties, offer the true wine geek the chance to experience so many new styles of wine. Sure, like any wine producing nation, there is going to be some rubbish, but from trying these three wines shows that there is promise.
2009 Chateau Mukhrani Mtsvane
Made from the grape called Mtsvane, meaning 'new, young and green', this wine really does what it says on the tin! It is a young drinking, fresh wine but with a bit of complexity to it. There is a sweet fresh pineapple on the nose followed by a little bit of bacon fat. Then there is some citrus notes and a bit of beeswax - always a clean crisp element and then some fatter aroma. Pineapple and a little bit of lemon on the palate, nice balance at first, then some alcohol heat in the mid palate but it calms down. There is a nice forward fruit component and some more of the wax on the finish with a little bit of burnt match, but rather tasty and worth the £13 you will pay for it. 7/10
2009 Chateau Mukhrani Rkatsiteli
This grape is often blended with Mtsvane and if this is how it tastes on its own, I can tell why. It smells like a bit of clay with some lemon squeezed on and a bit of yellow plum skin wrapped around. It is quite minerally with some sweeter aromas of tropical fruit at the end of the nose. The palate is dry, quite minerally with some pear and pencil, and with a little sweetness on the end. The finish is nice, a simple wine, but nothing to write home about. OK. 5.5/10
2007 Chateau Mukhrani Saperavi
2007 Chateau Mukhrani Saperavi
Saperavi is not only the grape variety here, but the style of wine. There are three wines, made from the same grape, but aged in cask for different times. Mukuzani is aged for 3 years, Kindzmarauli for two and Saperavi for one. It had a little bit of clay on the nose, some cherry fruit coming through with a little dusty note. Some other berry aromas, maybe blueberry, come through but a bit of plasticine is offputting. The palate is dry, with some cherry stone coming off and a little bit of earthy flavours mixed with some raspberry and crunchy berries. It has slightly firm tannins, but not overpowering and it is a perfectly drinkable wine. It is a bit pricy, I'd like to see it under £10, but for a 'new' region in the UK, it is not horrifically overpriced at £13. 6/10
As an introduction to Georgian wine, I'm pretty pleased with it. I'm interested in trying more, if I can get hold of any, but these three wines are available in the UK priced between £12 and £13. Now I just have to find something that isn't Wikipedia to learn about Georgian wine from.
As an introduction to Georgian wine, I'm pretty pleased with it. I'm interested in trying more, if I can get hold of any, but these three wines are available in the UK priced between £12 and £13. Now I just have to find something that isn't Wikipedia to learn about Georgian wine from.
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