Red Spanish Baigorri Garnacha
Red Spanish Baigorri Garnacha 2018 wine
This wine from Bodega Baigorri in Rioja Alavesa is best enjoyed after letting it breathe for an hour. The winery is known for its unique cellar design by architect Inaki Aspiazu, which not only looks impressive with its panoramic windows but also functions to preserve the grape flavors during the winemaking process. Made mainly from Garnacha grapes grown in sunny vineyards with 35-year-old vines, this wine has a rich purple hue.
The aroma is a mix of red and black berries, stone fruit, almonds, cooked pear, and a touch of cinnamon. When you taste it, you’ll notice a nice balance of power, sweetness, warmth, and freshness, leading to a long and elegant finish. This wine is a great match for roast lamb.
Red Spanish Baigorri Reserva Rioja 2018 wine
To get the best flavor, it’s recommended to let this wine sit out for an hour before sipping. Bodega Baigorri, a well-known Rioja producer since 1996, has vineyards spread out on terraced hills above the Ebro River. Each section of the vineyard has its own microclimate, enhancing the unique qualities of the wines.
The winery uses a gravity flow system to process the grapes, avoiding the use of pumps. The Tempranillo grapes for the Baigorri Reserva are grown in San Vicente de la Sonsierra on clay-limestone soil from vines over 40 years old, resulting in a wine with low yields and high fruit quality. This ruby red wine with violet hints has a complex aroma of black and blueberries, dark chocolate, cherry liqueur, toasted mocha beans, cinnamon, caramelized nuts, and tobacco.
The palate is smooth, rich, and velvety with a burst of fruity freshness. Pair this wine with beef, lamb, game meats, or oxtail for a delicious combination.
White Georgian Barbale Rkatsiteli Khikhvi 2022 wine
No need to let this wine breathe before enjoying it. Barbale winery, located in the central-eastern region of Kartli, Georgia, near the ancient Bolnisi village and the Mashavera River, has been producing top-notch organic and natural wines since 2016. The winery is named after Saint Barbara, a Greek martyr associated with fertility.
Winemaker Berdia Berishvili oversees the production of unique wines made from indigenous grape varieties, some of which are rare.
Red Georgian Barbale Shavkapito Reserve 2022 wine
You don’t need to let this wine breathe, but it’s a good idea to open it up about half an hour before pouring a glass. Barbale Winery is a new player in the Georgian wine scene, focusing on organic wines made by expert winemaker Berdia Berishvili using local grapes from Kartli and Kakheti. Founded in 2016, the winery takes its name from a Georgian goddess linked to fertility.
The Shavkapito grape, unique to eastern Georgia’s Kartli region, is similar to the more common Saperavi but with a lighter body. The Exceptional Harvest wine is crafted from organically grown grapes near Mejvriskhevi village in Shida Kartli. It has a rich aroma of ripe black cherry, black currant jam, plum, cherry tart, sweet spices, and a hint of wood smoke.
The taste is a mix of wild berry flavors with velvety tannins, full body, medium acidity, and a long, spicy finish. This wine is affordable and pairs nicely with grilled meat or roast pork.