2023 Pheasant's Tears Saperavi

Pheasant’s Tears has built its reputation on making soulful Georgian wines the old way – in qvevri, buried underground, with nothing added and nothing taken away. Saperavi is Georgia’s flagship red grape, grown for centuries across Kakheti, and in the hands of John Wurdeman and Gela Patalishvili it’s given a proper traditional treatment.

The 2023 shows why this grape has endured. Deeply coloured (it’s one of the few red grapes with pigment in both skins and pulp), it has that mix of dark fruit, spice and earth that Saperavi lovers chase, but wrapped in a texture that’s both firm and juicy. Long maceration in qvevri brings structure, while the natural acidity keeps it fresh and food friendly.

It’s bold but not heavy, authentic without being rustic – the kind of wine that really speaks of place. If you’re looking to explore the heart of Georgian red wine tradition, this is about as classic as it gets.