Georgian red dry wine Royal Khvanchkara Aleksandrouli-Saperavi

Dutch connoisseurs, sophisticated in Bordeaux, Burgundy, and northern Italy, are increasingly seeking the "next thing"—terroirs not yet available at Albert Heijn. Georgia is the perfect candidate: 8,000 years of continuous winemaking, varieties found nowhere else in the world, and yet prices unmatched in France. This particular bottle offers three hooks for an interesting guest:

Grapes:

Producer: Royal Khvanchkara, Lado Uzunashvili, one of the most renowned oenologists in modern Georgia, a member of the 11th generation of a winemaking family, with experience in France, Japan, and Australia. His name on the wine's card is a serious seal of quality

Region: Racha-Lechkhumi

Alcohol: 14.5%, noticeably high – a result of ripe grapes and interrupted fermentation

Vinification: Traditional, aged in oak barrels

Color: Deep ruby-garnet with violet-cherry hues along the rim – Saperavi is immediately recognizable in blended form by its dense color. The wine is opaque even in a thin layer

Aroma: Open, generous. First comes ripe cherry, blackberry, and jammy blackcurrant. The second layer is dried rose petal (a classic Alexandruli signature), violet, cinnamon, black pepper, and a hint of tobacco leaf. In the background, a light hint of dark chocolate and dried fig, typical of mature Saperavi

Taste: juicy cherry, ripe plum, dark honey, dark chocolate. The finish is long, spicy and fruity, with a slight mineral bitterness that cuts through the sweetness and begs for another sip. The 14.5% alcohol doesn't sting—it's hidden in the density of the fruit

Serving:

Perfect for: Charcoal grill – ribeye, entrecote, lamb shashlik, duck breast, venison, game