Qvevris mtsvivani 2021 (Tbilvino)

Enjoy it now, or cellar for a few years. No need to decant before serving. This is a dry, elegant wine, made in the traditional Georgian way. The rare Mtsvivani grape was harvested from prime plots in the region of Kakheti, before being fermented in clay vessels, known in Georgia as qvevri. It is loaded with scents of dried apricot, peach, and orange peel, becoming more open and fragrant as the wine aerates. Since its foundation in 1962, Tbilvino has been a powerhouse of the Georgian wine industry - one of the largest and most important wineries in the country. It is now under the leadership of two brothers, Zurab and Giorgi Margvelashvili, who have ushered the winery into the modern era, and overseen its immense rise in popularity. They source their fruits from over 400 hectares of land, spread across many of Georgia’s best-renowned microclimates. The fragrant nose prepares the palate for a cornucopia of dried fruit flavours. You can discover hints of dried mango, raisin and mandarin, with background notes of white flowers and honey. The palate is slightly creamy and viscous, with a pleasantly astringent tannic quality, gained from fermenting in clay. It is distinctly Georgian, and a great way to become familiar with a rarely-used grape varietal. Pair Mtsvivani with seafood, khachapuri, or boiled chicken.