United Stars Mukuzani Dry 2015

L.J. Palmer WSET 3 rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Deep ruby coloured wine, dry, balanced and medium bodied with a pronounced nose featuring vanilla, sweet baking spice, green pepper, pepper, blackberries and a nice smokiness. Palate of dark berry, sweet spice and smoke; a bit like a Zinfandel. Very pleasant sipper and paired very well with beef stroganoff.

Courtney Flood rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

Rustic and lively red made from the Georgian saperavi grape. Juicy raspberry and cranberry with herbaceous notes of rosemary and oregano. Pair with traditional Georgian fare such as grilled beef or pork kebobs, chicken satsivi, goats milk cheeses and roasted eggplant.

Christian Marcoux rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

Surprising wine from the Republic of Georgia, the Mukuzani 2015 offers aromas of dark cherry and plum, violet, spice, pipe tobacco, cocoa and cedar. Medium-bodied, this Eastern European wine exposes delicious attributes and supple tannins. Its finish is dry, offering a variety of food pairing options. Palate: tart red currant, tart blueberry, dried herbs, graphite, spice and cedar. Enjoy.

Lori Kilmartin WSET3 rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

An interesting wine from Georgia made with their indigenous Saperavi grape. Bright ruby in the glass with a fairly aromatic nose of Cherry, sweet spice and oak. High grippy tannins with medium-high acidity. Flavours of sweet cherry and spice. Five years old but showing no signs of aging, this wine still has time to further evolve in the bottle. Pair with a medium rare steak to tame those tannins! Tasted October 2020

Molly Amoli Shinhat reviewed this wine as follows:

With a red plum nose and a strawberry note, its nose has a whisper of smoke. On the palate, its silky, velvety tannins complement robust acidity. It rings in at 13% a.b.v. with 3 g/l residual sugar.

It's made of the indigenous grape, Saperavi, and this 2015 is a deep ruby, juicy, medium-bodied, fruity wine. This wine was aged for one year in Caucasian oak.

Together, the indigenous varietal and the use of this highly unusual oak - Caucasian (usually, it's American or French) - make for both a really unexpected and frankly, quite delightful value wine.

The prevailing wisdom in the West today is that wine was born in Georgia - which is where this wine is from. Time changes almost everything. Today, Georgia is a former Soviet republic. This wine hails from the PDFO Microzone Mukuzani, which is where the wine gets its name.

A great sipper, pair with contemplation of how and where wine began. This wine also pairs with game and soft cheeses.

Andrea Shapiro rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

The locally grown Saperavi grape, originated in the Kakheti region of Georgia, and is itself, quite unique. The fleshy part of this grape contains a rich, vibrant red colour. This well priced, Georgian wine made by Koncho Winery and produced by United Stars is a deep ruby colour with dynamic aromas of black cherries, dark plums, chocolate and a hint of earthy truffles. Flavours show cooked strawberries and red fruit, alongside elements of stony salty minerals and smoky heat lingering tastefully into the back. Acidity balances brightly against silky, demure tannins and a well balanced, dry, medium body. This will drink well on its own or as an accompaniment to barbecued pork, lamb or steak. Enjoy!

Jane Staples rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

This dry red wine is crafted from Georgia's indigenous Saperavi grape varietal, grown in the Kakheti region. The nose opens with ripe dark cherry and blackberry aromas, followed by a palate giving dark berry, vanilla, oak and smoke, with grippy tannins. I'd serve this with game, roast duck or spicy barbequed ribs. Decant 1 hour before serving.
Tasted Sept. 2020

Jennifer Havers rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Lovely and vibrant. This wine is made from Saperavi which is a grape indigenous to Georgia. Aromas of cranberry, red cherry and a hint of candied strawberry as well as hints of spicy smoke. Medium bodied, with ripe, rounded berry notes, and a hint of peppery spice on the finish. Enjoy with slow roasted or braised meats.

Craig Haynes rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

This wine opened with an energetic nose of candied red fruit as well as sweet scented dried herbs that introduced a medium bodied palate marked by supple tannins, plenty of flavourful sweet red fruit notes as well as hints of cracked white pepper and leather.

Koncho Winery crafted this red from Saperavi, a dark skinned with pink flesh varietal indigenous to the Republic of Georgia, and matured it for over 12 months in Caucasian oak. Drink now. Enjoy.

Reviewed on September 12, 2020