2001 Gapsted Saperavi

The Saperavi grape will be unknown to nearly all wine lovers, and it’s hardly surprising unless you’ve been to Georgia, Russia, where the cultivar is a native. Georgia has a 6000 year history of winemaking and around 500 native grape varieties which we do not see in Australia. Robin Day, winemaker to Orlando, has planted a small patch of Saperavi in his Mount Grandford Vineyard in South Australia, and we look forward to tasting his results.
Very deep purple mauve colour with deep purple mauve hue. Aroma of spice, plum and anise, with a hint of liquorice, followed by a distinct white pepper end note. The palate has generous weight and concentration, with flavours of blood plum and spice followed by white and black pepper. In many ways the varietal resembles Shiraz, except that the tannin structure is drier, making a comparison with Zinfandel credible. A hint of spearmint emerging in the aftertaste. A wine well worth tasting.
Cellar 4-5 years (2008-2009)
Alc/Vol: 14%