DAN'S WINE BLOG- THIS WEEK'S WINE REVIEW.

I have been a big fan of the native Georgian red variety, SAPERAVI, since I first tasted the initial release by Patritti Wines of its 2008 Barossa Saperavi. Here is a big, deep, rich wine that isn’t overpowered by tannins nor alcohol.

Since then I have written a couple of magazine articles on this, one of my favourite red wine varieties. No one knows how old the variety is, but they have been making wine in Georgia for 8,000 years and SAPERAVI is the most mentioned variety in the old writings, so it is no “johnny-come-lately”.

Another early adopter of SAPERAVI was GAPSTED WINES, in the King Valley of Victoria. Their early SAPERAVI were quite tannic and a bit chunky, but over the last decade they have refined their style so that the 2018 was super-slick and raring to go – no need to cellar it for ages while it softened off.

The current release, GAPSTED WINES 2019 ALPINE VALLEY LIMITED RELEASE SAPERAVI, is (due to seasonal variation) a smidge more tannic than the sublime 2018, but is still ready to go and it is simply brilliant with food.

This wine has a deep, dark, dense, almost black colour, a big yet subtle, enticing bouquet with roasted beetroot and dried herb aromas. The palate has lashings of deep, rich varietal flavours and a tight, grippy, lingering finish. Enjoy this beautiful wine with food now, or cellar for two to four years and enjoy it on its own. Either way it is drop dead yummy!!!

The SAPERAVI is well worth seeking out, as are the other wines in the Gapsted range, especially their superb, 2019 High Country Chardonnay.

Cheers and remember #chooseaustralianwine #emergingvarieties

Winery Link:  

www.gapstedwines.com.au