Schuchmann Wines Saperavi Vinoterra

Excellent with strong cheese. A little earthy as a quaffer.

I drank this after work on 3/3/11. It had a very unusual bouquet of mushroom, black cherry, plum, vanilla, anise and herb aromas. The palate was very smooth, balanced and tasty with flavors of black cherry, plum, anise, herbs, vanilla, spice and minerals. 88+

Five months of sleep seem to have helped this a little. Still has the smoky fruit and overall funkiness but it is less awkward. Dark plum and fig, tobacco, and some iron clad, ripasso-like tannins. Would like to try again with further age. (4+11+15+7) = 87

Very dark maroon, 95% opaque and solid to the rim. I get Bazooka bubblegum and some smoky/nutty aromas with a little licorice. Pretty acidic on the palate with a strong bite, the fruits go darker to plum and black cherry with a block of tannins firming up a long finish. Iit could smooth out in a couple years and seems to have the necessary backbone. (5+10+14+7) = 86

The Wines of Georgia (LIWSF, London) : 12.5% Clay jar fermented. This has a rather curious nose with smoky black fruits. Rather astringent on the palate, especially in comparison with the other saperavi wines. Odd, gentle, open and slightly porty on the palate, but without the sweetness. Very Good+.