Teliani Valley, Kindzmarauli (Kakheti, Georgia) 2021

 Kindzmarauli, is a PDO, Protected District of Origin, in Kakheti in western Georgia.  It is the birthplace of this traditional wine.  It is a warm region, which allows the Saperavi grape to get quite ripe and develop high sugar levels.  Traditionally, the fermentation is stopped early, leaving residual sugar.  At Teliani Valley, they chill the wine to stop fermentation when it has reached the desired sugar level, then filter and stabilize in stainless steel.  The residual sugar of this wine is three and a half percent, a detectable amount.  However, the rich black fruit of cherry, berries, and plums with blueberries is very well balanced by Saperavi’s plentiful acidity and chalky tannins.  We paired with a cheese pizza topped with roasted tomatoes.  If we had served a drier wine the sweetness of those tomatoes would have made a drier wine unpleasantly tart.