2017 Karas, Armenia, Amavir, Wine Review

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.

Grade:

B+

Score:

Vintage:

2017

Current Price:

$14.00USD

2015 Karas Reserve, Armenia, Amavir, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$28.00USD

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

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

2017 Zorah Karasi, Armenia, Vayots Dzor, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$33.00USD

This is a very interesting wine (and good, too). 100% Areni grapes grown at 4,000 feet altitude. Fermented in temperature controlled concrete vats ad then aged for 12 months in traditional amphorae. Ruby in color with a purple core, opaque but flat in appearance. The nose has black cherries, cherries, cranberries, black pepper and slight dried flowers. Medium to full bodied. It has a "warm" quality which seems different from alcohol. Complex with layers of fruit and spice. Good acidity. Long finish. This seems on the young side, it should drink well for another seven to ten years.

2017 Oshin Voskehat, Armenia, Vyats Dzor, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$30.00USD

This is a wine made from the Voskehat grape, that tasted blind, might easily be pegged for California Chardonnay. Golden in color, clear and bright. The nose has a nice minerality but also plenty of oak (Caucasian Oak) that gives is color and spice. With air some peach comes out as well. Medium bodied with a nice oily texture. On the palate, there is some tangerine and an interesting wheat quality. Some lemon on the finish that is slightly astringent. This took about 30 minutes to open and then opened nicely. It is a big wine with a fair amount of oak. It drinks well on its own and

2017 Karas, Armenia, Amavir, Wine Review

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2015 Karas Reserve, Armenia, Amavir, Wine Review

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

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

2017 Zorah Karasi, Armenia, Vayots Dzor, Wine Review

2017 Oshin Voskehat, Armenia, Vyats Dzor, Wine Review