Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Umano – Mukuzani – Red Dry Wine – 2020
Mukuzani PDO – Kakheti – Georgia 🇬🇪

Overview
A traditional Georgian red made from 100% Saperavi, produced in the Mukuzani appellation, one of Georgia’s most respected PDOs for age-worthy dry reds. The 2020 vintage reflects classic Kakhetian winemaking, emphasizing structure, varietal purity, and balance rather than excess extraction. This wine showcases the serious, noble side of Saperavi through controlled fermentation and restrained oak influence.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe sour cherry, black plum, and dark raspberry lead, followed by notes of dried herbs, forest floor, and subtle spice. Secondary layers of cocoa, tobacco leaf, and gentle oak emerge with air, adding depth without overshadowing the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with firm yet polished tannins. The palate is structured and dry, supported by fresh acidity that keeps the wine lively and food-driven. The finish is savory and persistent, with dark fruit and spice lingering gracefully.

Food Pairings
Grilled meats, lamb kebabs, roasted pork, beef stews, mushroom-based dishes, and semi-aged cheeses.

Verdict
A classic and honest expression of Mukuzani, delivering Saperavi’s natural intensity with restraint and balance. This is a traditional Georgian red that speaks clearly of place, grape, and heritage, making it an excellent introduction to serious Georgian dry wines. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Mukuzani is one of Georgia’s most prestigious Protected Designations of Origin and is traditionally associated with oak-aged Saperavi wines that emphasize structure and aging potential rather than overt fruitiness.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
While not flamboyant, this is a quietly confident wine that rewards patience. A thoughtful, food-friendly Saperavi that highlights why Mukuzani remains a benchmark appellation in Georgia. — 8 months ago

David Shaw

8.9

Opaque red plum color, cherry and plum aromas. Spice and cherry flavors. Decant. Cherry with depth and cocoa emerge after a couple of hours. Healthy backbone of tannins here — 3 years ago

Stephanie C

9.4

Bright, fruity, dry - watermelon jolly rancher to start, ends funky — 4 years ago

James Mosman

9.0

Very good. Wasn’t sure what we’d end up with but this y it s worth another go around. — 5 years ago

Devin Bostick

8.9

Smell has some thyme lavender, gold orange color, thyme oregano taste, some acids and a musty naturalness that carries through with a metallic final finishing tannin — 6 years ago

Daniel M

9.0

First Georgian wine, first orange wine, I'm in uncharted territories here 😊. Spoiler alert : I like it very much.

I have issues describing the nose as it's completely new to me : there is a bit of honey, a bit of menthol or petrol, some white flower notes too and a tiny touch of apricot. Wow
Here comes a palate with tannins 😮 a strong acid drive, a good width with matter and a nice thickness, honey and apricot and then that huge spherical mid palate where tannins kick in with a drying thing which creates some asperity and triggers a never-ending finish with that dry mouthfeel and the same honey, apricot touches.
I usually associate honey and apricot touches to sweet wines or some chenin crus. This is very dry, but with a weight and a nice presence. I'm a bit late on the trend but I'll look into orange wines some more (and Georgian wines too) — 6 years ago

Space

9.2

Я второй раз пью это вино. В этот раз 2020 года урожай - номер бутылки 1960. .Сегодня день рождения Георгий Чхония. Пьем. За его здоровье ! — a year ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Light straw color. Aromas and flavors of peach, yellow apple, white flowers, apricots, white pepper and green melon. Very long and crisp mineral/saline driven finish. A bit of heft and grip. Bright, fresh and thirst quenching. — 2 years ago

Vin d’Ottawa

9.1

Dry, verging on sour in its depths. Green pear, kiwi. — 3 years ago

Michael Malpiedi

8.9

Polished, bright, orange pith and lemon zest. Very orange color. Super clean and linear. Best very cold. — 4 years ago

John Pizza

9.1

Alisa and Jehiel at Safta — 4.1.22 — 4 years ago

Space

9.2

Выпито 17.09.21 в Обнинске. Отличное грузинское вино. Купаж трёх автохтонных сортов винограда шавкапито,буза и данахарули. Урожай 2015 года. Понравилось. — 5 years ago

Elizabeth Gardner

9.0

More interesting than the average kindz. — 6 years ago

Zviad Eliziani

9.0

Very goos KISI with higj tanins, made in qvevri — a year ago

Sharon B

9.2

I was a little worried about this but it’s pretty good! It’s semi dry with lots of fruit from the country of Georgia — a year ago

Daron Watson

9.1

plummy, luxardo cherries, chambord ~ paired well w dark chocolate brownies! — 4 years ago

Benjamin Hickey

9.1

Bright, spritz rather than bubbly. Seseame and apple — 4 years ago

A Marie

9.0

Molinari holiday buy - very good — 4 years ago

Michael Chelus

9.0

Black cherry, raspberry, blackberry, currant, vanilla, licorice and oak. Full-bodied and soft tannins. — 6 years ago

Joe Hakim

9.5

Dry, spicy, fruity — 6 years ago