Vine Ponto Kisi Qvevri 2020

Enjoy it now, or cellar for a few years. No need to decant before serving. Vine Ponto’s Kisi Qvevri is a dry amber wine: fermented in clay pots for 6 months, before further ageing in oak barrels. It is bursting with notes of dried apricot, fig, buckwheat honey and orchard fruits, along with an edge of smoke and minerality. Kisi is a grape variety native to Georgia, that is currently on the rise after near extinction. Vine Ponto is located in Georgia’s wine capital, Telavi, in the famous region of Kakheti. The region is defined by the mighty Alazani River Valley and the nearby Tsiv-Gombori mountain range, which create ideal conditions for grape growing. Head winemaker Giorgi Bakuradze aims to preserve and enhance traditional Georgian winemaking methods, by using clay qvevri pots, and utilising minimal intervention methods. This amber wine begins with a full-bodied blast of apricot, dried herbs, persimmon and toasted almonds. It is nicely balanced, offering both savoury and fruity nuances. As it opens up, you can also detect hints of black tea and balsamic. It is an intriguing amber wine, exhibiting a fresh and rustic style that is unique to Georgia. Consider pairing it with nuts, hard cheese, or Middle Eastern dishes.