Tchotiashvili Khikhvi Rcheuli Qvevri 2020

Drink it now or cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant, but best to open it half an hour before service. Located in the Kakheti region, eastern Georgia, between the Caucasus Mountains and the Alazani River, Tchotiashvili is a family-run winery with a history spanning six generations. The winery, now run by brothers Kakha and Ucha, produces a wide range of excellent wines from indigenous Georgian grapes, some of which are very rare. The Khikhvi grapes, a native Georgian grape variety from the Kakheti region, are sourced exclusively from the estate's vineyards in Saniore. Production is limited and bottles are numbered. Fermentation occurs with the skins and seeds, and the wine remains in contact with the skins in qvevri for eight months, according to traditional Georgian practices, before being bottled unfiltered. The result is an intense and distinctive wine, with a bright golden color and amber hues. On the nose, the wine reveals a complex aromatic profile with notes of ripe stone fruit and candied pear, caramel, spices, and honey. On the palate, it is rich and generous, smooth and balanced, with a long, slightly astringent and fruity finish. It pairs excellently with Lebanese dishes, spicy chicken recipes and medium-aged cheese.