Karas Reserve Areni Sireni 2022
Ahhh Karas. This is the one that got me into Caucasus wines. Someday I'd like to have one of their other wines, but I'm quite happy with this one (I have one more bottle stashed away)
This one is 60% Areni (similar to Pinot Noir) and 40 Sireni (darker, more intense). I suspect its the Sireni that gives it its extra kick. It's so dark you could almost paint with it, and it pools in the glass like blood.
Nose, blackberries, coffee, cinnamon. Taste, bitter dark chocolate, delicate but present tannin, leather, not much fruit. Great.
I saved about a 1/3rd of it, and when I tried it today it really opened up. Nose moved to some pretty intense blueberry jam notes. Much fruitier, very decadent. Leave it out for at least a half hour before you drink it if you want a more delicate floral wine, though its stronger more dark chocolatey flavors are quite good as well.
It's such a shame that so many American wine drinkers are so set in their tastes. There is a whole universe of wine out there in the world. Someday I'd like to try a wine that's full Sireni, but it's hard enough to find Armenian wines as it is. I plan to leave the last one in the cellar for at least another few years, we'll see how it comes out of that at the end.
NatScore: 4/5 Love It