2015 Karas Reserve, Armenia, Amavir, Wine Review

This is a blend of 40% Montepulciano, 25% Cabernet Franc, 20% Syrah, and 15% Malbec. The word Reserve implies a better blend then the regular release (and higher priced) although there is no official rule. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is earthy with cassis, tobacco and black cherries. Medium bodied with bright acidity. On the palate, nice cassis and black cherry fruit with underlying dry earthiness. Nice finish. Complex. This seems like it is not a full maturity with light tannins remaining. Drink over the next five to seven years. It will work well with pork, meats and fowl. Braised pork would be good choice.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2015

Current Price:

$28.00USD

2017 Karas, Armenia, Amavir, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$14.00USD

This is a blend of 35% Syrah, 35% Cot (Malbec), 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Tannat. This is a bit thinner and less ripe than the 2014 (a different blend). Ruby in color, darker at the core, mostly clear and bright. The nose has cherries with some pomegranate. Medium bodied. On the palate, cherries with some spice. Good acidity. The finish is a bit clipped. Drink over the next three to five years. This will work well with pasta with a red meat based sauce.

2014 Karas Dry Red Wine, Armenia, Armavir, Wine Review

Vintage:

2014

Score:

Grade:

A-

This is a blend of 40% Syrah, 18% Tannat, 15% Cabernet Franc, 14% Petit Verdot, 10% Montepulciano and 3% Khndoghni, made in Armenia. Purple in color with ruby swirls. The nose is dusty with cherries. On the palate, this has nice black cherry fruit. There is a nice complexity with a good finish. This seems to be at prime or slightly past but drinking well. Drink over the next couple of years. It would work well with a burger or pizza. It was around $14 on release so a great value.

NV Karas Muscat Sweet Sparkling, Armenia, Armavir, Wine Review

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$13.00USD

This is a sparkling wine from Armenia made from the Muscat grape. The secondary fermentation happens in tanks not bottles which is a pretty successful process used in Eastern Europe and Asia to make inexpensive sparkling wines. Tasted with a group, lots of comparisons to Asti Spumante or Martini & Rossi wines which is fair, but this beats most of those in price. Light golden in color, clear and bright. A nice froth of larger bubbles which leaves the glass quickly. The nose has nice peach notes with some minerality. On the palate, there is some carbonation. Slightly sweet but not

2016 Takri Sireni Reserve Banazur Village, Armenia, Artsakh, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$33.00USD

This is made from the Sireni grape in Armenia. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is dusty with black cherries and spice. Medium to full bodied. On the palate, this is complex and layered. Lots of black cherry fruit. Medium tannins. Ripe but not over done. Good finish. This seems about at peak but should drink well for another 5 to seven more years. This will work great with ribs of burgers off the grill.

2013 Old Bridge Areni Reserve, Armenia, Arpa Valley, Wine Review

Vintage:

2013

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$33.00USD

This is made from the Areni Grape, one of the oldest known varieties in the world, in Armenia. Aged for 24 months in Armenian oak barrels. Ruby in color, garnet at the core, a bit flat and cloudy. On the nose, this is full of spices, with black cherries and slight cranberries. A nice backbone of acidity. The black cherries and cranberries carry thru to the palate. Tart fruit. Depth and complexity. This works better with food; Chikofte or Armenian "Steak Tartare" would probably work well as would a burger off the grill. Drink over the next five to seven years (a guess).

2015 Karas Reserve, Armenia, Amavir, Wine Review

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2017 Karas, Armenia, Amavir, Wine Review

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