Freddy R. Troya

9.0

ArmAs – Reserve – 2015
UruUu Estate Bottled
Armavir, Armenia 🇦🇲

Overview
A bold, estate-bottled Armenian red from ArmAs Estate, made 100% from Karmrahyut, an indigenous teinturier grape. Aged 24 months in new French and Artsakh oak, this is a powerful, structured wine built for serious food pairings rather than casual sipping.
Despite its age, this 2015 vintage strongly benefits from extended decanting, not optional, but recommended.

Aromas & Flavors
Deep and concentrated with dark cherry, blackberry paste, and sour plum, layered with savory herbs, graphite, and subtle smoky spice. The profile leans more savory than fruit-forward, emphasizing depth and intensity over freshness.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and commanding with firm, grainy tannins and a dense, textured palate. Even after over 2 hours of decanting, the wine remains tightly coiled, underscoring its serious structure and long aging potential.

Food Pairings
A wine that demands food. Best with braised lamb, grilled game, rich stews, or deeply savory dishes where fat and umami can balance the tannic grip.

Verdict
A powerful, uncompromising wine that rewards patience and context. Not a crowd pleaser and not a casual pour, but an authentic and intense expression of Armenian terroir. Decanting is essential, and even then, this wine speaks best at the table.

Did You Know?
Karmrahyut is one of Armenia’s rare teinturier grapes, meaning both the skin and pulp are pigmented, contributing to the wine’s deep color, structure, and bold personality.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This is a serious, food-driven wine. Even with extended decanting, it remains powerful and demanding, fascinating for adventurous palates, but not forgiving. A wine to approach with intention, patience, and a proper meal. — 6 days ago

Maxwell Riesberg

8.9

Had with a homemade Mediterranean feast
Tobacco and pomegranate. A little dry. Very nice! — 4 years ago

William Hughes

9.0

The ‘13 and ‘14 are available now and are completely geeky! The hybrid grape Kamrahyut is more than 90% of the blend. The aromatics are fascinating with rich plum, apricot, rose, and sweet herbs for the nose. The wine has medium-plus acidity and a solid tannic backbone. Dark and savory fruits on the palate. Enjoyable. — 6 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Armas Estate – Uru Uu Karmrahyut 2015
Aragatsotn Province, Armenia 🇦🇲

Overview
Made from 100% Karmrahyut, an indigenous Armenian tenturier grape (red pulp as well as skin), this bottling from Armas Estate shows just how approachable and crowd-pleasing ancient varietals can be when crafted with precision.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe cherry, plum, and pomegranate notes mingle with subtle floral tones and earthy undertones. A touch of spice and soft herbs lift the nose, while the palate is juicy, silky, and surprisingly elegant for such a deeply pigmented grape.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with rounded tannins, approachable acidity, and a smooth finish that makes this red both distinctive and easy to love.

Winemaking Notes
Armas Estate, founded by the Armas family, is dedicated to reviving Armenia’s indigenous grapes through modern yet respectful techniques. Karmrahyut—rare outside Armenia—offers naturally high pigment and structure, but here it’s crafted for charm as much as power.

Food Pairing
Pairs beautifully with lamb kebabs, roasted vegetables, dolma, and aged Armenian cheeses.

Verdict
A true expression of Armenian heritage made modern, this 2015 Uru Uu is a gem for wine adventurers and an approachable introduction to Armenia’s native reds.

Personal Pick Highlight
I had the privilege of hosting a class with Victoria Aslanian herself—one of the estate’s owners—which made this bottle not just delicious, but deeply memorable. — 4 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

8.9

Vintage 2014 | great effort. Curiosity from Armenia, barrel aged. Blind served some friends were reminded to Chardonnay. — a year ago

Alan Goldberg

9.2

Juicy, red, and delicious. — 5 years ago

ESF

9.3

confirming previous note: went back and grabbed every bottle they had left! 2 things jumped out - hi ABV but wears it well and grippy chewy tannins, but well-integrated. worth seeking out — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Armas Estate “Uru Uu” Rosé 2021
Aragatsotn, Armenia 🇦🇲

Overview
A standout rosé crafted from 100% Karmrahyut, one of Armenia’s rare indigenous tenturier grapes (red skin and red pulp). Known for its deep pigmentation and perfumed character, Karmrahyut gives this wine its signature vibrancy. Fun fact: “Karmrahyut” translates to “red juice” in Armenian!

Aromas & Flavors
Bursting with rose petals, ripe red cherries, and a delicate lift of wildflowers. A subtle touch of honey rounds out the profile, adding nuance without sweetness.

Mouthfeel
Light yet textural — thanks to 5 months sur lie aging, which provides a silky, subtle creaminess beneath the bright fruit. Crisp, lively, and elegant.

Winemaking Notes
The sur lie contact enhances body and texture while maintaining freshness, making this rosé a fascinating blend of aromatic intensity and structure.

Food Pairing
Perfect with mezze platters, summer salads, fresh goat cheese, or even salmon tartare. Its floral-fruity core also works beautifully with mildly spiced Middle Eastern cuisine.

Verdict
An interesting and distinctive rosé — perfumed, layered, and true to Armenia’s unique terroir. Not your average pink sip — this one carries both charm and character. — a year ago

Alexander Motola

9.2

Phenomenal QPR. Really interesting wine. Great acidity. I liked it. They apparently make some higher end bottling, I’d love to try them. — 4 years ago

Christiaan De Groot - van Keijzerswaard

9.8

Heerlijk bij stoofvlees met hert — 6 years ago

with Stefan