When Rob announced that theme for our local non-serious group was Georgia, can’t say I was thrilled. But we ended up having a good time. After a glitch with only Georgian restaurant in Westchester, he picked up a nice spread from a place in the city:
Some spreads adjika (red pepper), creamy herb and walnut, and imeruli (onion/walnut)
Pickles
Cornbread and cheese
Tomato/cucumber salad
Chakapuli - tarragon lamb stew
Wines were blind but as only thing anyone knew is Rkatsiteli or Saperavi guesses were limited.
2023 Mukhrani Rkatsiteli Dry White
OK, this wasn’t bad, citrus and white cherry, good acids, clean and easy. B
2021 Zurab Tsereteli Rkatsiteli
I sometimes like orange winners, this isn’t one of those times. Cidery, oxidative, tacky tannin, canned pears, burnt rubber. C
2023 Mamaveli Kakheti Qvevri Dry Amber
Here’s an orange wine I can live with. Lighter, pear and fig, lemon zest and hint of vanilla bean, lots of body but easy to drink B/B+
2023 Andria Gvino Kakheti Saperavi Khashmi Qvevri
I thought this a little hot at first but think I mistook volatility for alcohol (only 13%) Lifted, funky, a little mousey, one person really liked- not me. B-/C+
2021 Chateau Mukhrani Saperavi Superieur
Bigger black plum and cherry fruit, some vanillin oak, a bit clumsy, B-
2023 Dila-O Saperavi
Light bright and easy, fresh berries, tangy, light tannins. B
2023 Marbano Saperavi Legend
Big, tannic, ripe black fruit and some oak notes, rather anonymous international wine. B-
OK so not a great wine night but we all had fun!
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was the only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.