Saperavi

I am not a believer in "natural wines" as it seems to judge a wine on its merits and not on some nebulous term.  That said, most of the ones I have tried seem like chemistry experiments gone wrong.  This is the exception and one of the best "natural wines" I have tasted.  It is made from the Saperavi grape in Georgia.  It is made with no fining, filtering or addition of sulfites.  That said, it is also made in a more "modern" style for Georgian wines, that is fermented for 8 days in temperature controlled vats, pressed off the solids leaving no residual sugar and finished in stainless steel

Kagor is a fortified dessert wine made from cabernet sauvignon, saperavi and other grapes.  Usually fouund on-near the Black Sea coast of the former Russian Empire, primarily in Moldova and Crimea, though this one comes from Uzbekistan.  The name is a Russian version of Cahors from Southwest France.  Peter the Great was a fan of Cahors wines and started importing them in bulk. The Russian clergy, swayed by the deep color (Christ's blood), adopted Cahors for sacraments in 1733.

This is Moldova's most famous wine.  It was apparently Quenn Victoria's favorite and Queen Elizabeth gets a case every year.  Who knew?  If served blind, I would likely guess Bordeaux 5th growth or perhaps a Sonoma Cab (Beringer Knight's Valley Reserve?).  Not to slight Modova as it would never enter my guessing knowledge.  If there was a complaint that in a tasting of Moldovan wines, it is not exotic or unusual which is a bit un fair.  It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Saperavi 25%, Rara Neagra 5%.  It spends 18 months in French oak barrels.  Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim, o

Lupi mean wolves.  A very nice showing for this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Saperavi that was aged for a period of 10-12 months in 225l barrels and aged for at least 2 years in oak barrels from Krasnodar (Russia).  Purple in color, garnet at the rim.  The nose has black cherries with a hint of smoked tobacco ash.  Very interesting.  With air a bit of black coffee.  Medium to full bodies.  On the palate, black raspberries, cherries, a bit of dried currants and slight earthiness.  Strong backbone of acidity.  Long finish.  A really interesting wine with depth and complexity.  Tast