Three Georgian wines from new UK retailer Degustate
Three wines from Degustate, a new UK-based online Georgian wine shop: www.degustate.co.uk
These show the different sides of Georgia, and three of the key grape varieties. They all represent great value for money.
Winiveria Kisi 2018 Kakheti, Georgia
12.5% alcohol
£11.35 Degustate.co.uk
Full yellow in colour, this is a restrained, textured, spicy and mineral white wine with lovely citrus fruit and a hint of honey and fresh grapes. It’s pure and quite gastronomic, with a fine, grainy structure and some yellow plum notes on the finish, with a nice acid line. Lots of personality here, and also a sense of delicacy. 91/100
Wine People Rkatsiteli by Avtandil Ugrekhelidze 2017 Bolnisi, Georgia
12% alcohol
£12.80 Degustate.co.uk
This is a new project from Teliani, a major Georgian producer. It’s limited editions of wines made by smaller growers: in this case Avtandil Ugrekhelidze, a doctor from a winemaking family. He started making wine in Qvevri in 2015. This Rkatsiteli is fermented and aged in Qvevri. Orange/gold in colour, this is a textured dry white with a lovely honeyed depth on the palate, and notes of clay and earth adding savoury interest. There are hints of mint and green tea, too, with a mineral streak on the finish complementing the pear and lemon fruit. Characterful and delicious, this is quite a bargain. 92/100
Zangaura Saperavi 2016 Kakheti, Georgia
13% alcohol
£12.70 Degustate.co.uk
Sweetly aromatic with a hint of cedar spice and ripe cherries and plums. The palate is rounded and fruit driven with some sweet strawberry and cherry fruit. It’s midweight, balanced and shows a good concentration of fruit with a nice sweet, finely spiced finish. The tannins have softened and this is drinking nicely. 90/100
