Telavi Marani Napareuli 2018
Ask a random Georgian in the streets of Tbilisi about the best winery in his country and chances are high he will say Telavi Marani Wine Cellar. This ambitious wine house has been producing high quality wines in an international style for years.
| Country | Georgia |
| Region | Kakheti |
| Protected Designation of Origin | Napareuli |
| Wine maker | Telavi Marani Wine Cellar |
| Grape varieties | Saperavi |
| Terroir | The grapes come from the winery's own vineyards in the Napareuli appellation. It is located on the bank of the Alazani River, oriented to the south, at about 400-500 meters altitude. The soil here contains quite a lot of loam. The climate is temperate, with mild winters and warm summers. |
| Harvest method | handpicked |
| Yield per hectare | 8 tons per hectare. |
| Vinification | Grapes are picked by hand, destemmed, pressed and fermented at a controlled temperature (23-28°C) in stainless steel tanks. After 12-15 days of maceration, the wine was transferred for malolactic fermentation and then aged for 9-12 months in 225 l oak barriques. The aging continues in stainless steel tanks before bottling, complemented by bottle aging at the optimum temperature prior to release. |
| Impression | On the nose strawberry and blackberry. Spicy with recognizable but well-dosed wood aging. Firm and expressive with a pleasant texture. Lots of forest fruit, licorice notes, oak and ripe tannins. |
| Did you know? | Napareuli has been a Georgian appellation for red wines from the Saperavi grape since 1890. Since 1983, 'white Napareuli' has also been allowed to be made, but that hardly happens yet. Because the vineyards are located on slopes, oriented to the south, the grapes receive a lot of sun and give expressive wines. |