Bedoba, Saperavi Reserve
Vintage: 2020
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | BD104B20 | 6 x 75 | Diam | Available |
Producer
Bedoba, which translates to `Day of Luck’, is a Georgian winery primarily dedicated to making wines from the countries indigenous Saperavi grape, partially vinified in traditional qvevri vessels.
Bedoba’s Saperavi grapes hail from vines with an average age of 30 years old. These are planted in the renowned wine region of Kakheti (near the eastern border with Azerbaijan) in the Kvareli and Kindzmarauli appellations along the Duruji River valley. The soils here are rich in black shale and the southern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains provide elevations of over 400 metres, creating fresh acidity and soft tannins. Bedoba embraces sustainable and organic practices, alongside hand-harvesting and careful sorting of the dark-skinned, red-fleshed Saperavi grapes.
The original winery, whose cellars date back to 1737, was founded by the Konchosvilli family who had a close relationship with the church (`koncho` means cross). Winemakers Nugzar Ksovreli and Thierry Fontannaz honour this history on Bedoba’s label, with the icon of Saint Nina, whose apostolic work has contributed to the spread of Christianity in Georgia.
A small percentage of the grapes are whole bunch fermented, while another is left to dry naturally on the vines until November, ensuring a fine balance of the grape's savoury and spicy characteristics. Stainless steel tanks and clay qvevri are used for fermentation, exemplifying the blend of innovation and tradition employed by Ksovreli and Fontannaz. The resulting wine is then aged in second and third fill American oak barrels barrels and 5,000-litre wooden vats, before a further 12 months in bottle, to create a seamless texture.
Bedoba also produce an orange wine from 70% Rkatsiteli and 30% Kisi. The Rkatsiteli, grown on 25-year-old vines planted on blue slate soil, adds richness, while the Kisi, from cooler limestone vineyards, brings freshness to the final blend. Fermented in traditional qvevri and stainless steel, this is a textural, gastronomic wine brimming with notes of dried apricot, honey, orange peel, and wild herbs.
Vineyards
The Saperavi grapes for this Reserve are sourced from vineyards planted in 1984 and located in the classic and traditional microzones of Kindzmarauli and Kvareli, in the Kakheti region. These vines are rooted in the region’s characteristic black slate soil, which reaches a depth of eight meters, making it challenging for the vines to access the necessary water. As a result, yields are typically low, averaging around 3,000 kg per hectare. At the same time, this type of soil imparts a distinctive elegance, lightness, and minerality to the wine.
Vintage
The 2020 harvest in the Kakheti started earlier than usual. The region saw little rain during the growing season and higher temperatures than the normal. Cool nights helped the grapes to ripen at a slower, more gradual pace. The grapes for Bedoba Reserve were left on the vines until the end of October, allowing a natural passerillage (drying) of the berries. The harvest lasted until the middle of November.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested by hand in two separate pickings. On arrival at the winery, they undergo a rigorous selection on a sorting table before whole bunches are placed into 2,500-litre qvevri to ferment with indigenous yeasts. The cap is punched down four times daily at the start of fermentation, with the frequency gradually reduced throughout the fermentation. Once alcoholic fermentation is complete, the qvevri are sealed to allow malolactic fermentation to take place. This usually finishes in December, after which the wine remains on skins and stems until March. Half of the wine is then transferred to new qvevri for 15 months’ ageing, while the remainder is aged in second-fill 500-litre French oak barrels for 10 months before being returned to qvevri for further refinement.The final blend was bottled in December 2022 and aged for over a year in bottle prior to release.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
Bedoba Reserve has a rich and complex profile, with aromas of dark berries, wild alpine herbs, delicate floral nuances and spicy cracked black pepper tones. On the palate, it strikes a perfect balance between power and elegance, with bold, spiced fruit flavours harmonizing with a refined minerality and silky texture. The gentle influence of low-toast oak adds layers of subtle complexity enhanced by the long, structured finish.
Alcohol (ABV)
13.5%
Acidity
5.1 g/l
Residual Sugar
2.9 g/l
pH
3.8