Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Teliani Valley – Amber Blend 2022
Kakheti – Georgia 🇬🇪

Overview
A traditional Georgian amber wine made from a blend of Rkatsiteli, Mtsvane, Kisi, and Khikhvi — four of the country’s most historic indigenous grapes. Crafted with skin contact, this cuvée reflects the ancient qvevri tradition while appealing to modern palates. (Educational note: Amber wine, also called “orange wine,” results from fermenting white grapes on their skins, giving color, tannin, and complexity.)

Aromas & Flavors
Notes of dried apricot, orange peel, and quince lead, with layers of chamomile, tea leaf, and subtle spice. Hints of honey and walnut appear, creating both freshness and earthiness.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with firm, tea-like tannins from skin contact. Textured and grippy yet lifted by acidity, finishing dry, savory, and persistent.

Food Pairings
Pairs beautifully with Georgian cuisine like khachapuri and walnut-stuffed vegetables. Also versatile with Middle Eastern mezze, roasted poultry, or aged cheeses.

Verdict
A fascinating and authentic expression of Georgia’s amber wine tradition. Complex, grippy, and aromatic, this 2022 blend is both educational and deeply enjoyable. 🍷

Did You Know?
Georgia’s qvevri winemaking tradition, where wines are fermented and aged in clay vessels buried underground, is recognized by UNESCO as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.

Hidden Gem 💎
An amber blend of four indigenous grapes, Teliani’s 2022 bottling is a rare chance to taste Georgia’s heritage in a single glass. — 16 days ago

Stuart Thomas King Ama

9.5

Light but tasty red. No bitter after taste and very well priced. Getting this, again — 3 years ago

Alex Heilman

9.1

One of the most interesting wines I’ve ever tasted. It’s very oxidative with an almost sherry quality to it. Twigs, honey, stone fruit, and a huge aroma of lemon balm and dried fruit. — 5 years ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.2

Deep, deep ruby in color; blackberries, violets, and earth on the nose; medium acidity; high tannins; tastes like black currants, black pepper, and clay pots with a long finish. — 4 months ago

Stuart Pollack

8.9

Good Saperavi but not one of the best. This wine needs about an hour of air before consuming. Nice classic Saperavi made in Qvevri, but not remarkable. There are more elegant examples but this wine was good and inexpensive. — 2 years ago

Lars Fasel

8.9

Lots of low ratings for this one from Georgia. Perhaps it was the wonderful charred lamb chops pairing but I enjoyed it. Bell pepper, woodsy, meaty, smoke, tobacco, but some good fruit to balance it all out. — 5 years ago

Jessica Cansler

9.5

Love love love! Both Nick and I really liked this one and would be very happy to get again. Very light for a red — a year ago

Zviad Eliziani

9.1

Very good Mtsvivani (unique grape variety in georgia) — a year ago

Yuri

9.0

Good Rose with Sashimi — 2 years ago

Joe Hakim

9.3

Very unique. Dry with subtle apricot. — 5 years ago