Gogi's Wine 2013

Winery Cradle of Wine

Region Kakheti, Georgia

Grapes Rkatsiteli 75%, Mtsvane 20%, Chinuri 5%

ProfileThis is a traditional eastern Georgian amber wine. The juice was left on the skins and lees for a period of six months while in the traditional qvevri vessels. The wine attains a deep amber hue due to the extended skin contact. The bouquet is quite fresh with notes of apricot and persimmon with chamomile and even a bit of turmeric on the nose. The palate is rich and broad with some exceptional mouthfeel due to skin contact. The wine is not bitter though, the flavor is moderated with just a touch of residual sugar.

Grape GrowingThe grapes are grown on a 7.5 hectare plot sloping towards the Alazani River located in Kakheti, Georgia's most continental and most famous wine region. The grapes are organically farmed. Only indigenous Georgian varieties are used. There is no chemical treatment in the vineyard at all.

WinemakingThe grapes are pressed directly into the qvevri which vary in size between 200L and 2000L. Each qvevri is lined with beeswax to prevent excess oxidation. The qvevri are fired at over 1000 degrees celsius and can be used for hundreds of years. They are left to ferment and macerate inside for a period of six months with direct contact from skins and lees (cha-cha). Only indigenous yeasts are used. During this time, the skins and lees sink to the bottom providing a natural filtration. No sulfur is added to the process.

More About the WineIn Kakheti, where it is hotter and drier than in other parts of the country, the tradition is to age all of the whites and reds on skins and cha-cha for the entire process. This is to mirror the more harsh climate of the area and provide for wines of greater intensity and structure. In the western part of Georgia, they only do 2/3 of the wine on skins, sometimes less. The wines of Kakheti are thus much darker, more structured, and more aggressive. They are best served at room temperature to bring out the full range of complex aromas, especially in the whites.