2022 Ori Marani Exile on Caucasus

Ori Marani, an exciting artisanal winery founded by husband-and-wife team Bastien Warskotte and Nino Gvantseladze, is nestled in the village of Igoeti in the Shida Kartli region of Georgia. Since 2016, they have focused on producing traditional method sparkling wines and some very smart still wine cuvees, all crafted with organic, low-intervention techniques.

The 2022 Exile on Caucasus is made from 100% Rkatsiteli grapes from the Uroebi and Tsarapi vineyards. Harvested in mid-September, 70% of the grapes underwent a 14-day skin contact maceration in qvevri, with the rest direct pressed. The wine was then aged in qvevri and old 350L French barrels, and bottled unfined and unfiltered, with minimal sulfur added. This is what traditional Georgian winemaking is all about.

This amber-hued wine has aromas of licorice, yellow peaches, hazelnut, dried apricots, and tea leaves. The palate is rich and fresh, with flavors of dried apricots, almond, and honey, and a long, crisp finish. It's something of a textural, rather than challenging, style of amber wine from this part of the world and we very much enjoyed it on release.

With a production of just 2500 bottles, this is a rare and delightful expression of Georgia's ancient winemaking heritage and a truly unique and enjoyable drinking experience.