Category: Wine of The Day

Solomnishvili Winery | Kakheti, Georgia | 100% Saperavi | 13% ABV

A Georgian Red That Refuses to Follow the Rules

There are wines that follow tradition, wines that challenge convention, and wines that remind us that tradition existed long before Bordeaux became fashionable or Napa Valley started commanding three-figure prices.

The 2018 Nineteen 84 Saperavi from Solomnishvili Winery belongs to that third category.

Georgia is one of the world’s oldest winemaking civilizations, with a documented history stretching back roughly 8,000 years. In Kakheti, the country’s eastern wine-producing heartland, Saperavi has long been the grape of choice for serious reds. Unlike Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah, Saperavi is a teinturier grape, meaning both its skin and flesh contain red pigments. The result is wines of remarkable depth, concentration and color.

Giorgi Solomnishvili’s Nineteen 84 embraces that heritage with a decidedly contemporary identity. The minimalist label, featuring the numbers 1984 arranged vertically, is almost confrontational in its simplicity. No château, no family crest, no romantic vineyard illustration. Just a statement.

And the wine promises to make one of its own.

In the Glass

The following tasting profile reflects the Saperavi variety and the wine’s age, rather than a verified tasting of this particular bottle.

The Nose

A mature 2018 Saperavi should offer a compelling combination of dark fruit and savory complexity. Think black cherries, blackberries and ripe plums, gradually giving way to dried violets, tobacco leaf, leather and hints of black pepper.

With eight years since harvest, the youthful fruit may have begun yielding to more earthy, secondary characteristics. That evolution is precisely what makes an aged Georgian red interesting.

The Palate

Saperavi rarely suffers from a lack of personality. Expect dark fruit concentration supported by pronounced acidity and substantial tannins.

At 13% alcohol, this particular bottling sits comfortably below the strength of many modern international reds. That suggests the possibility of a wine emphasizing structure and freshness rather than sheer alcoholic power.

The most interesting question is how the tannins have evolved. If they have softened sufficiently, the combination of black fruit, savory spice and mineral tension could deliver a wonderfully integrated drinking experience.

The Finish

A well-developed Saperavi should finish with lingering dark fruit, earthy undertones and a pleasant grip of tannin. Its natural acidity is one of the variety’s greatest assets, helping preserve freshness as the wine matures.

Old World Heritage, Different Rules

What makes Georgian Saperavi fascinating is that it occupies a space somewhere between the muscular intensity of a young Barolo, the dark fruit concentration of a northern Rhône Syrah and the earthy character of a traditionally made Cahors Malbec.

Yet it is none of those wines.

Saperavi has its own identity, one built around acidity, tannin and an unmistakable dark-fruit signature.

Solomnishvili’s bottling, from the Kakheti region, offers an opportunity to explore that identity without the expectations imposed by more familiar European appellations.

At the Table

This is not a wine I would instinctively pair with delicate seafood or lightly prepared vegetables.

It calls for something substantial.

Georgian lamb kebabs, slow-roasted beef, grilled ribeye, wild mushrooms or traditional Georgian mtsvadi, charcoal-grilled meat, would all be compelling companions.

Aged sheep’s milk cheeses would also make sense, particularly if the wine has developed the savory characteristics associated with mature Saperavi.

Drinking Window

At eight years from vintage, the 2018 should be worth opening now, assuming sound storage. I would initially decant gently to separate any sediment, taste immediately, and follow its evolution over 30 to 60 minutes rather than automatically subjecting it to prolonged aeration.

Its remaining longevity depends on its actual structure and storage history.

The WineSiders Verdict

1984 Saperavi 2018 is a bottle for the intellectually curious wine drinker. Someone who appreciates Barolo’s structure, Syrah’s dark intensity and the discovery of wines made beyond the familiar borders of France, Italy and Spain.

Georgia doesn’t need to imitate the great wine regions of Europe. It was making wine thousands of years before many of them existed.

And that alone makes this bottle worth exploring.

The takeaway: A distinctive Georgian Saperavi from Giorgi Solomnishvili, combining the promise of dark-fruit intensity, firm structure and mature savory complexity. With eight years behind it and a restrained 13% alcohol, the 2018 is an intriguing candidate for drinking now. A wine for discovery, not conformity, subject to tasting confirmation.

A White Wine That Reminds You Why Northern Italy Is Worth Exploring

There are wines you discover because everyone is talking about them, and then there are wines you discover because you’ve wandered a little farther down the road. Ca’ Lojera’s 2025 Lugana belongs to the latter category.

I first fell in love with the Lugana wines on a trip to Milan mire than a dozen years ago. I found them delightful, refreshing, an absolutely stunning replacement for what was becoming boring California Chardonnays and Loire whites. Of course since then, Loire whites have redeemed themselves

From the southern shores of Lake Garda, where Lombardy meets Veneto, comes a white wine that demonstrates why Lugana deserves far more attention than it receives outside Italy.

The producer, Ca’ Lojera, has built its reputation around Turbiana, the distinctive white grape responsible for Lugana’s character. Closely related to Verdicchio, Turbiana combines refreshing acidity with an ability to develop texture, complexity and surprising longevity.

The estate’s name is associated with a local legend involving wolves, reflected in the animal silhouette on the label.

In the Glass

Indicative tasting profile based on the wine’s variety and regional style, rather than a verified tasting of this particular bottle.

The nose: Expect an inviting combination of white peach, green apple and citrus zest, accompanied by delicate white flowers. With a little air, notes of fresh almond, crushed stone and Mediterranean herbs may emerge.

The palate: The attraction of good Lugana is its ability to be simultaneously refreshing and substantial. The 2025 Ca’ Lojera should offer crisp orchard fruit, lemon and subtle stone-fruit richness, supported by lively acidity and a gently rounded mid-palate.

What distinguishes Turbiana from many straightforward Italian whites is its underlying structure. There’s often a subtle savory quality that keeps the wine from becoming simply another pleasant summer refresher.

The finish: Look for a lingering citrus character, a touch of almond and a lightly saline, mineral impression. That interplay between fruit, acidity and savory complexity is what makes Lugana particularly compelling at the table.

The Regional Perspective

Lugana occupies an interesting position in Italy’s white-wine landscape.

It doesn’t enjoy the international recognition of Pinot Grigio from Alto Adige or the fashionable reputation of some Friulian whites. Yet the best examples can offer more personality than many mass-market alternatives.

Ca’ Lojera represents the traditional appeal of the appellation: wines intended to express Turbiana and the distinctive conditions around Lake Garda rather than overwhelm the grape with winemaking intervention.

Compared with a typical commercial Pinot Grigio, a well-made Lugana generally delivers greater texture and a more persistent finish. Against Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, the family resemblance becomes apparent in the acidity and characteristic almond notes.

The 2025 vintage is young, and that youth should be part of its attraction.

At the Table

My first choice would be grilled lake fish or branzino with lemon, olive oil and fresh herbs.

Other excellent companions include spaghetti alle vongole, risotto with asparagus, seafood crudo or simply fresh burrata with ripe tomatoes.

Serve at approximately 9–11°C, allowing the wine to warm slightly in the glass.

Drinking Window

The 2025 should be enjoyable in its youth, particularly for those who appreciate freshness and bright fruit. Given Turbiana’s natural structure, I would anticipate a reasonable drinking window through 2028–2030, assuming proper storage, although this particular vintage’s aging performance remains to be established.

The WineSiders Verdict

Ca’ Lojera Lugana is precisely the kind of Italian white worth seeking out: regionally distinctive, food-friendly and capable of offering considerably more interest than its relatively modest international profile suggests.

The appeal isn’t extravagance. It’s character, balance and a sense of place.

An Alpine Address for a Rhine Classic

Some of Italy’s most interesting white wines reward a willingness to wander beyond the familiar names. This Riesling Renano from Maso Bergamini is a case in point: a grape associated with Germany, grown in the hills above Trento, with an approach that makes it worth a closer look.

This review draws on the producer’s description; tasting impressions of the 2024 remain to be confirmed.

The estate’s Riesling grows at approximately 550 metres on volcanic soils. Its described aromatic signature centres on peach and apricot, supported by bright acidity and a mineral finish. That combination holds considerable promise: stone fruit providing generosity, with freshness giving the wine definition and keeping the fruit from becoming heavy. 

The detail that catches my attention is the producer’s use of two harvests. The first takes place in October; the second follows later in autumn, when frost and noble rot can contribute aromatic complexity. It is an intriguing approach to Riesling, potentially bringing together the freshness of the earlier picking and the greater richness of later fruit. The estate describes this as its general method, rather than a confirmed account of the 2024 vintage. 

At the label’s stated 13% alcohol, I would approach this as a white for the table, giving it room to unfold alongside food. Pan-fried trout with brown butter, roast chicken with tarragon, or a mushroom risotto would be my starting points. Serve it cool, around 10–12°C, and let the temperature rise slightly in the glass.

The critical measure will be balance. Aromatic richness is attractive, but the acidity needs to carry it through the finish. Without tasting, neither residual sweetness nor persistence can be assessed, and an ambitious cellar recommendation would be premature.

What makes this bottle interesting is its specificity. There is a particular vineyard setting, an individual harvesting philosophy and a familiar grape seen through a Trentino lens. For a curious Riesling drinker, that is ample reason to pull the cork.

Verdict: Maso Bergamini’s 2024 Riesling Renano offers a promising combination of Alpine freshness and late-harvest aromatic depth. For drinkers who enjoy exploring Riesling beyond Germany and Alsace, this is an intriguing bottle to discover over a meal, with its ultimate quality resting on the balance found in the glass.

There’s something about Languedoc that still feels like a quiet rebellion. While Bordeaux and Burgundy collect headlines and auction prices, producers like Domaine d’Aupilhac just keep doing the work, vintage after vintage, without the noise. This 2013 Montpeyroux is exactly that kind of wine. Understated on the surface, but layered once you give it the attention it deserves. That’s why it’s today’s WineSiders Wine of the Day.

Let’s start with the blend, because it matters here. Mostly Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan, Grenache, and a touch of Cinsault, all working together like a band that’s been playing the same set for decades. Nobody is trying to be the star. The result is cohesion, not flash.

In the glass, it leans toward a mature garnet, with a slight brick edge that tells you it’s entering its secondary phase. This is not a fruit bomb. If that’s what you’re looking for, move on. This wine has moved past primary fruit and into something more interesting.

On the nose, you get dried herbs, garrigue, black olive, and a touch of leather. There is still some dark cherry and plum hanging on, but it is more about savory complexity than sweetness. Think hillside after a warm day in the south of France, not a polished Napa tasting room.

The palate follows through with restraint and purpose. Medium-bodied, balanced, with acidity that keeps it alive and tannins that have softened but not disappeared. There is a slightly rustic edge here, and that is a compliment. It feels honest. No over-extraction, no heavy oak makeup, just wine that reflects where it came from.

What stands out is the integration. Nothing is out of place. The fruit, the earth, the spice, they all show up in the right proportions. At over a decade in bottle, it is drinking right where it should be. Not tired, not peaking aggressively, just settled into itself.

Food matters here. This is not a solo act wine. Lamb, grilled meats, something with herbs and fat, that is where it shines. Pair it right and it overdelivers. Drink it alone and you might miss the point.

Bottom line. This is what Languedoc does when it is taken seriously. No hype, no inflated pricing, just real wine with a sense of place. In a market full of engineered crowd-pleasers, this feels like the real thing.

This is a mature, honest Languedoc blend showing dried herbs, olive, leather, and restrained dark fruit. Balanced, integrated, and quietly complex, this is not a showy wine but a thoughtful one. Best with food, it delivers authenticity over flash and proves Montpeyroux still flies under the radar for all the right reasons. But not for long, which is why the 2013 Domaine d’Aupilhac Montpeyroux is today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day.

Some wines feel like discoveries pulled from the quieter corners of a wine map. I first encountered today’s WineSiders Wine of the Day, the Domaine Saint Amant’s “Grangeneuve” 2015, in just that sort of moment. The bottle itself, understated and almost rustic in its label design, hints at its roots high in the hills above the village of Suzette in the Beaumes-de-Venise appellation of the Southern Rhône.

Domaine Saint Amant sits perched in the Dentelles de Montmirail, and that altitude gives its wines a slightly lifted personality compared with some of the broader, sun-drenched Rhône reds. The Grangeneuve cuvée, typically built around Grenache with supporting roles from Syrah and Mourvèdre, reflects the warm generosity of the 2015 vintage but carries an elegance that makes it feel more like a mountain breeze than a Mediterranean heatwave.

Aroma / Nose

The nose opens immediately with ripe black cherry, plum, and crushed raspberry, the kind of fruit profile that signals Southern Rhône warmth. Give it a moment in the glass and more layers reveal themselves: lavender, dried thyme, and a whisper of garrigue, that wild herbal character so tied to the rocky hillsides of the region.

There is also a subtle savory undertone: black olive tapenade, cracked pepper, and a faint note of leather. It feels evocative of walking past sun-warmed herbs on a hillside path overlooking the Rhône Valley.

Palate / Taste / Texture

On the palate, the wine delivers exactly what the nose promises, but with an appealing balance between power and freshness. Dark berry fruit leads the way: blackberry, black cherry, and baked plum, wrapped in soft but present tannins.

The Grenache brings generosity and mid-palate sweetness, while the Syrah contributes peppery spice and structure, and Mourvèdre adds a subtle earthy depth. The texture is supple rather than muscular. I found it to be medium to full-bodied, but never heavy.

A touch of licorice, cocoa powder, and dried herbs rounds out the flavor profile, giving the wine a layered feel that keeps you returning to the glass.

Finish & Balance

The finish carries a lingering echo of black fruit, pepper, and herbs, with tannins that have softened nicely after nearly a decade of aging. Acidity keeps the wine lively, preventing the rich fruit from feeling overripe.

Balance is the key theme here. The wine has warmth and generosity typical of the vintage, but also a lifted freshness that reflects its hillside origins.

Comparisons & Value / Regional Notes

Compared with many Beaumes-de-Venise reds, which can sometimes lean toward plush, sun-heavy styles, this wine shows a slightly more elegant, aromatic profile. It sits somewhere between the broader warmth of Gigondas and the softer, fruit-driven style of Côtes du Rhône Villages.

For its typical price bracket, wines like this often overdeliver. You get authentic Southern Rhône character without the price tag attached to some of the neighboring appellations.

Food Pairing + Drinking Window

This is a natural partner for roasted lamb, herb-crusted pork, grilled sausages, or a rustic ratatouille. The herbal notes make it especially friendly with Mediterranean dishes.

The 2015 vintage is drinking beautifully now, though bottles stored well could continue to hold for another 3–5 years.

Verdict / Takeaway

A quietly compelling Southern Rhône red: ripe, herbal, and balanced, with enough mountain freshness to keep things interesting. Ideal for lovers of Grenache-driven blends who appreciate authenticity over flash, which is why the 2015 Domaine Saint Amant “Grangeneuve” is today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day!!!

Some bottles feel like they were meant to be discovered on a back road, the kind where the pavement turns to gravel, and the horizon is all big sky and red rock. LEGION is one of those wines. This is the 2020 Arizona Red Wine, known as Legion, from Four 8 Wineworks in Camp Verde, a limited-edition run (the label notes an edition of 1200 bottles) with winemakers MJ Keenan and Tim White at the helm. The front label is pure desert dreamscape, and the back label reads like a field note from an ongoing experiment, fruit gathered across Arizona and folded into a living, evolving idea called LEGION. The grape varieties are not specified on the label, so I treat it as a true red blend, judged by what it delivers in the glass.

Let’s start with the Aroma and Nose

Right out of the bottle, the nose leans warm and regional. Think sunbaked black cherry, ripe plum, and blackberry compote, then a lift of dried desert herbs, sage, and a touch of crushed juniper. With a few minutes of air, there is a pleasing savory streak, leather, cocoa powder, and a peppery snap that keeps it from feeling too plush. It smells like twilight in the Verde Valley, when the day’s heat finally loosens its grip.

On the Palate. The Taste and the Texture

On the palate, LEGION lands in a medium-plus body with a confident, slightly rustic grip. The fruit is dark and generous, black cherry, mulberry, and a hint of blueberry, but it is framed by savory tones that read as graphite, roasted pepper, and a faint smoky edge. Tannins are present and structured, not harsh, but they do ask for food. Acidity is lively enough to keep the wine moving, giving it an energetic line through the midpalate rather than a heavy, jammy sprawl.

But it’s The Finish & Balance

The finish is where the blend’s personality shows. It trails off with dark fruit, cocoa nib, and a persistent herb and pepper echo. Balance leans savory, with the fruit acting as the welcome mat rather than the whole story. If you like your reds polished to a glossy sheen, this may feel a bit untamed. If you appreciate character, it is a feature, not a flaw.

Comparisons & Value & Some Regional Notes

In the context of Arizona reds, LEGION sits closer to the bolder, spice-driven side of the spectrum, less about sweet oak perfume and more about earth, herb, and sun-warmed fruit. Compared with many mass-market red blends, it is more structured and distinctive, with a sense of place that reads unmistakably Southwest.

When It Comes To Food Pairing + Drinking Window

Give it a short decant, 20 to 40 minutes helps the savory layers open. Pair it with mesquite-grilled tri-tip, lamb tacos with cumin and char, or a mushroom burger with smoked gouda. The drinking window feels best now through 2028, with the structure holding for a few more years if stored well.

The WineSiders Verdict / Takeaway

LEGION 2020 is a limited, story driven Arizona red blend with dark fruit, desert herb savor, and food friendly structure, best for drinkers who like their reds characterful and a little wild at the edges. That’s why the Legion 2020 is today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day.

There’s a quiet confidence to this bottle. No flash, no heavy glass, no bravado on the label—just a wine that knows exactly what it is.

Pouring Le Clot 2016, the first impression is freshness. Not the chill-you-down kind, but that lifted, savory energy that immediately signals restraint in a region better known for heat and muscle. The nose opens with tart cherry, dried raspberry, and a subtle black olive note, followed by thyme, warm stone, and that unmistakable garrigue perfume that feels sunbaked rather than sweet.

On the palate, this wine is all about tension and balance. Medium-bodied, bright on its feet, and quietly structured, it leans more red-fruited than dark, with cranberry and sour cherry up front, then layers of pepper, earth, and dried herbs. There’s no excess oak, no jam, no sense of pushing ripeness—just clarity. At 12.5% alcohol, it drinks with a Burgundian sense of proportion despite its southern roots.

What really stands out is how drinkable this is. It’s serious without being stern, rustic without being rough. The tannins are fine-grained, the acidity keeps everything in motion, and the finish lingers with a savory, mineral snap that makes you want another sip rather than another opinion.

This is a wine that shines at the table: roast chicken, lamb with herbs, mushrooms, grilled vegetables, even a simple charcuterie spread. It doesn’t dominate the food—it collaborates.

Le Clot is a reminder of why Roussillon, in the right hands, can deliver some of France’s most compelling values and most soulful wines. No gimmicks, no natural-wine theatrics—just honest farming, thoughtful winemaking, and a bottle that rewards attention without demanding it.

Bottom line: quietly excellent, effortlessly food-friendly, and exactly the kind of wine you hope to see on a well-curated wine list—and love even more when you do.

That’s why the 2016 Clot de l’Oum “Le Clot” Côtes du Roussillon Villages is today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day.