Gelendzhik-Krinitsa-Betta PDO, Krasnodar region, Russia, 12.4% vol., 2 400

Grape variety: Riesling

The wine is medium gold in colour. Clean and intense nose; aromas of beeswax, white flowers, peach, Duchesse pear and a slight note of honey. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate very well integrated alcohol, high juicy acidity, a light body, moderate plus fruity concentration on the medium plus finish with hints of citrus fruits. Very good quality; intense, pleasant, complex and developing nose with very precise varietal aromatics; on the palate, the wine is harmonious, bright, juicy, with excellent fruitiness and a notable length. Ready for drinking with potential for further development in the bottle (5-7 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 07/07/2022

Gelendzhik-Krinitsa-Betta PDO, Krasnodar region, Russia, 13% vol., 1 350

Grape variety: Muscat

The wine is light lemon in colour. Clean nose of moderate plus intensity; aromas of peach, blossom, yellow plum and a note of sage. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate well integrated alcohol, with medium plus fresh acidity, a light body, moderate fruit concentration on the medium finish with hints of yellow plum. Good quality; fresh, bright, fruity, diverse aromas with good varietal typicity; on the palate the wine is well balanced, juicy, light, with good fruitiness and length. Drink now while fresh and bright.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 07/07/2022

Kuban. Novorossiysk PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 11.5% vol., 1 600

Grape variety: Pinot Gris

The wine is deep salmon in colour with an orange hue. Clean nose of moderate plus intensity; aromas of vanilla, cinnamon, freshly cut wood, oriental spices and white raisin. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate well-integrated alcohol, medium plus juicy acidity, a medium body, moderate fruit concentration on the medium minus finish with notes of dried fruits. Good quality, but it is not a typical rosé in the classical sense, both in color and in aroma and taste. This wine evokes associations with an orange style. Quite intense aromatics, with clear notes of ageing in oak and spices; on the palate the wine is well balanced, juicy, with a phenolic edge and mouthcoating texture, the wine lacks fruit concentration and length. Drink now.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 07/07/2022

Crimea PGI, Sevastopol, Russia, 12.8% vol., 1 105

Grape variety: Pinot Noir

The wine is deep pink in colour. Clean nose of moderate intensity; aromas of black plum, honey flowers and creamy notes. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate plus warming alcohol, medium acidity, a medium minus body, moderate minus fruit concentration on the medium minus finish. Good quality; fruit forward and sweet aromas with pleasant creamy nuances; on the palate, the wine loses to its aromatics; the wine is a bit heavy due to alcohol coming to the fore, it lacks of fruitiness and length. Drink now.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 07/07/2022

Krasnodar region, Russia, 12% vol., 860

Grape variety: Cinsault; Grenache; Sira

The wine is light pink in colour. Clean nose of moderate plus intensity; aromas of red cherry, red currant, strawberry, minerality and creamy notes. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate very well integrated alcohol, high juicy acidity, a light body, moderate fruit concentration on the medium plus finish with distinct mineral notes. Very good quality; very gentle colour; delicate, diverse and quite intense berry-mineral aromatics; on the palate the wine is juicy, light, very well balanced. Ready for drinking with potential for further development in the bottle (1 year).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 01/07/2022

Kuban PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 12% vol., 625

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

The wine is medium pink in colour. Clean nose of moderate plus intensity; aromas of red cherry, red ripe apple, raspberry and a light note of cream. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate well-integrated alcohol, medium plus juicy acidity, a medium minus body, moderate fruit concentration on the medium finish with a hint of red raspberry. Good quality; pleasant, quite intense and typical aromas for this style of wine; dominated by berry notes, followed by a creamy nuance; on the palate the wine is well balanced, with good fruitiness and length. Ready for drinking with potential for further development (1 year).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 01/07/2022

Crimea PGI, Sevastopol, Russia, 12% vol., 550

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon; Pinot Noir; Pinot Blanc

The wine is light pink in colour. Clean nose of moderate plus intensity; flavors of strawberry, raspberry and cream. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate well integrated alcohol, high juicy acidity, a light body, moderate minus fruit concentration on the medium minus finish with notes of raspberry. Good quality; gentle, rather intense nose with primary and secondary aromas of berries and cream; on the palate, the wine is well balanced, juicy and light, but lacks fruitiness and length. Drink now.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 01/07/2022

Republic of Crimea, Russia, 13-14% vol., 990

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

The wine is medium pink in colour with a light orange hue. Clean nose of moderate plus intensity; aromas of strawberry jam, black plum and black cherry. On the palate, the wine is dry, with high warming alcohol, medium acidity, a medium body, moderate minus fruit concentration on the short finish with a slight bitterness. Average quality; fairly intense aromatics with very ripe berries and jammy notes; aromatics lack delicacy; on the palate, the wine is with distinct body, high alcohol which masks the aftertaste, and a slight bitterness also spoils the picture; the wine lacks freshness on the palate. Drink now.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 01/07/2022

Kuban. Krymsk PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 12% vol., 700

Grape variety: Pinot Noir; Merlot; Rkatsiteli; Mtsvane

The wine is medium pink in colour. Clean nose of moderate intensity; aromas of red cherry, red plum, cream. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate well-integrated alcohol, medium plus juicy acidity, a medium minus body, moderate fruit concentration on the medium finish with a hint of raspberry. Good quality; restrained but pleasant fruity nose with nuances of cream; on the palate the wine is juicy, well balanced with a slight phenolic aftertaste. Drink now.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 25/06/2022

Kuban PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 12.8% vol., 550

Grape variety: Merlot 80%; Zinfandel 20%

The wine is deep pink in colour. Clean nose of moderate plus intensity; aromas of strawberry, cherry yogurt and red sweet apple. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate well-integrated alcohol, medium plus fresh acidity, a light body, moderate fruit concentration on the medium minus finish with a hint of strawberry. Good quality; pleasant, fresh, fragrant and berry nose of the wine; on the palate the wine is refreshing, well balanced and with decent fruitiness. Drink now.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 25/06/2022

Kuban. Novorossiysk PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 11.5% vol., 1 250

Grape variety: Pinot Gris

The wine is light salmon in colour. Clean nose of moderate plus intensity; aromas of cranberry, raspberry and wild strawberry. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate very well integrated alcohol, high juicy acidity, a light body, moderate fruit concentration on the medium finish with notes of red berries. Good quality; very pleasant and quite intense aromatics of red berries; on the palate the wine is very refreshing, with flavours of red berries and well balanced. Drink now.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 25/06/2022

Kuban PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 12.5% vol., 1 150

Grape variety: Cabernet Franc; Malbec

The wine is light pink in colour. Clean nose of moderate plus intensity; aromas of redcurrant, red gooseberry and a slight note of tomato leaf. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate very well integrated alcohol, medium plus fresh acidity, a light body, moderate minus fruit concentration on the fairly short finish. Good quality; fresh, red-berry aromatics, with a note reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc; on the palate the wine is juicy, light and well balanced. Drink now.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 25/06/2022

Kuban. Afips River Valley PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 13% vol., 520

Grape variety: Saperavi; Müller-Thurgau; Tsimlyanskiy Chernyy

The wine is medium pink in colour with a strawberry hue. Clean nose of pronounced intensity; aromas of strawberry, raspberry and Grand Prix roses. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate plus warming alcohol, medium acidity, a medium minus body, moderate minus fruit concentration on the short finish and slight bitterness. Very pleasant and intense berry-floral nose; on the palate the wine loses to its aromatics; heavy due to standing out alcohol and lacking in length. Drink now.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 25/06/2022

Crimea PGI, Sevastopol, Russia, 12% vol., 995

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon; Chardonnay; Merlot

The wine is deep salmon in colour. Clean nose of moderate minus intensity; aromas of red berries (lingonberry, cranberry), green apple and red plum. On the palate, the wine with noticeable sweetness, moderate warming alcohol, medium acidity, a light body, moderate minus fruit concentration on the short finish. Average quality; simple, but easy drinking wine; light fruity aroma; on the palate the wine is also light, the alcohol sticks out a little, lacks acidity, fruitiness and length. Drink now.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 25/06/2022

Kuban. Novorossiysk PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 12.9% vol., 590

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon; Pinot Noir

The wine is deep salmon in colour with an orange hue. Clean nose of moderate intensity; aromas of plum compote, sweet cherry and a light note of leather. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate plus warming alcohol, medium acidity, a medium minus body, light fruit concentration on the short finish. Average quality; restrained developed aromatics of ripe and cooked black berries and fruits, lacking freshness; on the palate, the wine is heavy due to the standing out alcohol, light fruitiness and a quick aftertaste. Passing its peak.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 25/06/2022

Gelendzhik-Krinitsa-Betta PDO, Krasnodar region, Russia, 12.9% vol., 2 800

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon; Cabernet Franc; Syrah

The wine is deep ruby in colour. Clean and intense nose; aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, prune, graphite, cloves, vanilla and note of blackcurrant leaf. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate very well integrated alcohol, with medium plus juicy acidity, a medium plus body, medium plus firm tannins, with moderate plus fruit concentration on the medium plus finish with a note of blackcurrant. Very good quality; intense, complex and developing nose dominated by clear varietal aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon; notes of ageing in oak are very noble and well-integrated, not masking the primary aromatics; on the palate, the wine is well balanced and structured, juicy, with firm ripe tannins, decent fruitiness and a long aftertaste. Ready for drinking with potential for further development in the bottle (6-8 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 17/06/2022

Gelendzhik-Krinitsa-Betta PDO, Krasnodar region, Russia, 12.2% vol., 1 350

Grape variety: Syrah; Cabernet Sauvignon; Cabernet Franc

The wine is light salmon in colour. Clean nose of moderate plus intensity; aromas of peach, rose, pear, white currant and cream. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate very well integrated alcohol, high crisp acidity, a light body, moderate plus fruit concentration on the medium finish with notes of white currant. Very good quality; very delicate, pleasant, rather intense and diverse aromas with predominance of stone fruits and flowers; on the palate the wine is very well balanced, juicy, light, refreshing, with very good fruitiness in the aftertaste. Ready for drinking with potential for further development in the bottle (1-2 years).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 17/06/2022

Kuban PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 12% vol., 1 150

Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc

The wine is light lemon in colour. Clean and intense nose; aromas of green gooseberry, tomato leaf and green apple. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate well integrated alcohol, high crisp acidity, a light body, moderate plus fruit concentration on the medium finish with a note of green gooseberry. Very good quality; fresh, intense and typical aromatics with dominant notes of green fruits; on the palate the wine is juicy, light, well balanced with quite intense fruitiness. Drink now.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 17/06/2022

Divnomorskoye PDO, Krasnodar region, Russia, 12.5% vol., 990

Grape variety: Marselan

The wine is light pink in colour. Сlean nose of moderate plus intensity; aromas of whipped cream, red cherry and strawberry. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate very well integrated alcohol, high crisp acidity, a light body, moderate fruit concentration on the medium finish with notes of red berries. Good quality; delicate and rather intense creamy-berry aroma; on the palate well balanced, juicy and light. Ready for drinking with potential for further development in the bottle (1 year).

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 17/06/2022

Kuban. Novorossiysk PGI, Krasnodar region, Russia, 12% vol., 559

Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc

The wine is light lemon in colour. Clean nose of moderate plus intensity; aromas of lemon, green gooseberry and kiwi. On the palate, the wine is dry, with moderate very well integrated alcohol, high crisp acidity, a light body, moderate fruit concentration on the medium minus finish with a touch of lemon. Good quality; bright fruit aromas with a certain varietal typicity; on the palate, the wine is well balanced, crisp, with good fruitiness. Drink now.

Country of purchase: Russia

Tasted on 17/06/2022