Bedoba Saperavi

Made from the indigenous Georgian variety Saperavi, partially vinified in traditional qvevri vessels, Bedoba translates to `Day of Luck’. The original winery, whose cellars date back to 1737, was founded by the Konchosvilli family who had a close relationship with the church (`koncho` means cross). Winemakers Nugzar Ksovreli and Thierry Fontannaz honour this history on Bedoba’s label, with the icon of Saint Nina, whose apostolic work has contributed to the spread of Christianity in Georgia.

Bedoba’s Saperavi grapes hail from vines with an average age of 30 years old. These are planted in the renowned wine region of Kakheti (near the eastern border with Azerbaijan) in the Kvareli and Kindzmarauli appellations along the Duruji River valley. The soils here are rich in black shale and the southern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains provide elevations of over 400 metres, creating fresh acidity and soft tannins. Bedoba embraces sustainable and organic practices, alongside hand-harvesting and careful sorting of the dark-skinned, red-fleshed Saperavi grapes.

A small percentage of the grapes are whole bunch fermented, while another is left to dry naturally on the vines until November, ensuring a fine balance of the grape's savoury and spicy characteristics. Stainless steel tanks and clay qvevri are used for fermentation, exemplifying the blend of innovation and tradition employed by Ksovreli and Fontannaz. The resulting wine is then aged in second and third fill American oak barrels barrels and 5,000-litre wooden vats, before a further 12 months in bottle, to create a seamless texture.

Saperavi,

Bedoba is made from grapes sourced from vineyards located in the classic and traditional microzones of Kindzmarauli and Kvareli, in the Kakheti region. The vineyards are on average 30 years old, conducted on trellis and situated in a valley where the Duruji River used to run. The soils here are rich in black shale, and the southern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains provide altitudes of over 400 metres above sea level, bringing fresh acidity and soft tannins. Sustainable and organic practices are observed in the vineyards and harvest is carried out by hand.

All of the grapes are hand-harvested into small 15-kilo bins. Most of the hand harvested grapes were crushed and fermented in temperature controlled stainless-steel tanks for around six weeks, with 7% remaining as whole bunches to undergo fermentation in Qvevri amphora. The amphora-fermented wine remained in the vessel, after which it was removed to a press and then transferred to new Qvevri for further maturation. After the six-week fermentation, the tank-fermented wine was transferred to a mix of stainless-steel tanks, 5000 litre wooden vats and second and third use 225 litre American oak barrels, to undergo malolactic conversion. The final cuvee is a blend of 55% Saperavi matured in stainless-steel, 15% in 5000 litre wooden vats, 20% in second and third 225 litre American oak barrels and 10% Qvevri. After bottling, the wine remained in the cellar for a further six months before release.

This wine is dark purple in colour. The nose opens with a powerful savoury-spicy bouquet of blackberries, herbs, flowers and black pepper. The palate has a creamy, juicy texture, ripe tannins and black fruit flavours.

Drink with a warming, spiced beef stew or grilled oyster mushrooms.