Lost Eden, Georgia (Republic of Georgia) 2018

 This amiable wine from the Republic of Georgia is meant to be a crowd pleaser.  It has a deep, dark ruby color and spicy black cherry, mulberry aromas with a touch of vanilla.  It is smooth and round in the mouth with concentrated, rich blackberry, mulberry fruits layered with wood spice notes and a bit of sweetness for easy drinking with barbequed brisket or a juicy burger.  The label states that it is a “Red Blend,” which usually means that more than one grape variety is involved, so I was surprised to see that it is 100 percent Saperavi.  The blend consists of that grape from several different vineyards and part of the wine was made by modern methods and part in the traditional clay vessel called quervi.  Winemaker Laso Uzunashvill explains “My goal with the Lost Eden Red Blend is to find the perfect balance between modern and traditional Georgian winemaking practices.  Bringing the two sides together illustrates the quality as well as the evolution of winemaking in my country.”