Shumi Iberiuli Rkatsiteli Qvevri 2022

Drink it now or cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant but best to open it half an hour before service. Founded in 2001 in Georgia, in Tsinandali, in the Alazani River Valley, Shumi Winery is one of the most prestigious companies in the eastern region of Kakheti. Shumi produces high-quality wines from its approximately 300 hectares of vineyards. The grapes are sourced from different microzones of Georgia, including Akhmeta, Gurjaani, Akhasheni, and Kindzmarauli. This elegant amber wine is made from the Georgian Rkatsiteli grape variety selected in the Napareuli microregion. After fermentation, the wine remains in traditional Qvevri clay amphorae in contact with the skins for 4-6 months, before being aged in French oak barrels for another six months. Iberiuli Rkatsiteli Qvevri reveals a splendid amber color, clear and bright, the result of maceration on the skins. Its aromatic profile is intense, complex and elegant with notes of honey, dried fruit, pear, and quince. On the palate it is round and enveloping. The tannins are velvety and perfectly balanced by a subtle acidic vein that refreshes the palate. Good structure and a long and persistent finish. Try it with mushroom and goat cheese tart, with eggplant rolls, and in general with Middle Eastern cuisine.

Price: £18.71 from 8wines UK