Description
Grape variety
Saperavi 100%, Ballandean Estate fruit
Wine analysis
- Colour—Deep ruby, high density
- Nose—Berries and hints of licorice
- Palate—Full-bodied, well-structured with juicy red berries and fine tannins integrating with light oak
- Alc/Vol—6%
- Cellaring potential—Drink from now to 10 years. Careful cellaring will see restrained flavours, earthiness and blueberry, cherry and plum burst onto the scene as the acids and tannins subside over time. French oak provides richness and integrates well.
- Winemaker—Dylan Rhymer
- Viticulturist—Angelo Puglisi
Drink with …
Try a duck ragu or fillet of venison with wild mushrooms. Saperavi’s aromatics and firm texture complements game dishes and hearty winter fare.
Winemaking
Handpicked after careful monitoring in the vineyard to ensure the perfect balance between flavour, acidity and tannin ripeness. Long fermentation is followed by 14 months in reserve French oak barrels that are one to three years of age. Higher proportion of new oak in this wine due to big fruit structure and high alcohol. French oak soaks up tannin to build a big palate structure.
Viticulture
In our Bellevue vineyard, the Saperavi vines we planted in 2008 have an ancient look, with nobbly shoots reminiscent of arthritic fingers! Angelo was keen to experiment with this Strangebird™ varietal, as its mid-season ripening makes it less risky than other reds. The granite soils reflect heat onto the fruit—speeding the ripening during the day, with cool temperatures overnight—resulting in mature, intensely-flavoured fruit.
Michael Christopher Davis –
We’ve become huge fans of Saparavi wine over the years. Ballandean Estates Saparavi is at the top of our list – even better than Saparavi sampled and purchased on a recent trip to Georgia. This wine is an essential item for any decent cellar.