Deep purple color; ripe plum, dark cherry, blackberry jam, warm spice, clay, earth, minerality on the nose and palate.
Dry; supple, well-integrated tannins; bright acidity. Very well structured wine, accessible now but capable of aging. Balanced,, combines power and elegance. Impressively long finish. Full, rich body. 13.5% ABV
Saperavi is an ancient, indigenous red grape from Georgia, especially important in the Kakheti region. Georgia is recognized as at least one of the earliest locations of winemaking and likely the first. Saperavi grapes and wine may date back 8,000 years. It is a teinturier grape, which means its flesh is red, a rarity in wine grapes. The grape is exceptionally cold hardy and produces some of the world’s most intensely colored, full-bodied wines. The name “saperavi” comes from the Georgian word meaning “paint,” “dye,” or “give color.” It represents a transitional stage between wild and domesticated wine grapes. Research indicates saperavi, alongside rkatsiteli and chkhapa, likely are among the first grapes domesticated for use in systematic winemaking, as opposed to grape wine simply found fermenting naturally in the wild.
Grapes for this effort are hand-harvested from a single vineyard. Fermented in qvevri/amphorae, the traditional method in Georgian wine. After fermentation, grapes gently pressed then aged six months in the same vessel. That process imparts more of the clay and earth elements. The wine is further aged in likely neutral wood barrels (oak is not a feature of this effort). Bottled unfiltered in numbered bottles and sealed in wax. Each bottle carries a medallion featuring Shota Rustaveli, Georgia’s revered poet and literary icon of the 12-13th century, especially known for his poem “The Knight in the Panther Skin.”
Shilda Winery was founded in 2014, but its traditions go back for centuries. Georgian winemaking traditions represent the oldest continuous viticultural practices in the world. The winery is located in Kakheti and the village of Shilda in the central region of Georgian viticulture. It lies at the foot of the southern slope of the Caucasus Mountains. The climate and diversity of mineral-rich soil create natural condition for grape growing and wine making. The winery is equipped with Italian and French winemaking facilities and a laboratory with German technologies. It also produces high alcohol drinks—brandy, wine vodka, and chacha (sometimes called Georgian grappa).
Shilda Winery Rustaveli Old Vineyards Saperavi Qvevri, Kakheti, Georgian Republic 2022 is a balanced, impressive wine made with saperavi, a signature Republic of Georgia red grape. Fermented and aged in classic qvevri/amphorae vessels. Impressive depth and complexity from the premier Georgian wine region.
Pairing—traditional Georgian dishes, of course, including kharcho soup, a hearty, tomato-based beef and rice dish spiced with coriander, fenugreek, and garlic. Georgian fare is red meat-heavy with robust cooking; grilled and barbecued beef; barbecued pulled beef, barbecue spareribs. Lamb with herbs and garlic. Wild game—venison, wild boar, wild turkey. Turkey meatloaf with green onions. Grilled portobello mushrooms with balsamic glaze, eggplant curry. Cheese—Georgian sulguni, a semi-hard, brined cheese is classic; imeretian is softer and less salty option. Hard, aged international cheese—gouda, parmesan, pecorino; strong, salty cheese: roquefort, stilton, feta. Aged comtè, gruyère. $20-25
