Tchotiashvili Mtsvane Rcheuli Qvevri 2017

Enjoy it now, or cellar for up to 10 years. Decant for up to an hour before serving.

Tchotiashvili is a sixth-generation family winery, located on the picturesque left bank of the Alazani Valley. These days it is run by Kakha and Ucha, two brothers who produce red, pink, white and amber wines, from a wide range of indigenous Georgian grapes.

This wine was fermented in Qvevri, traditional clay amphorae that have been used in Georgia for thousands of years. After approximately 7 months of ageing in the clay pots, with the seeds, skins and all, the resulting Mtsvane wine is golden in colour, delicious and deeply complex. Qvevri wines typically contain more tannins than a standard white wine, which can lend itself to longer cellaring potential.

“Rcheuli Qvevri” exhibits intoxicating aromas of flowers and dried fruit, including notes of apple, melon and pear. It appears slow and thick as you swirl it around the glass - a characteristic that translates to the wine’s honeyed mouthfeel. On the palate, you can find interwoven notes of apricot, peach, walnut and strong minerality, which leads to a long and zesty finish.

Qvevri wines are an entirely different experience from traditional “old world” white wines, and this Mtsvane is a great opportunity to begin familiarising yourself with them. Consider pairing it with poultry or rich, cheesy Georgian dishes, such as khachapuri.