2007 Westport Rivers Rkatsiteli

Westport Rivers Winery in Westport, MA is a quaint, lively place and if one is so inclined, include a brewery next door. They specialize in one of the most versatile styles of wine when it comes to drinking on any occasion: Champagne. In the case of most every maker who uses the traditional method outside of the Champagne region in France, they call it sparkling wine. But that's not the point of this post. The point isn't over the fact The point here is to share what else they've got in their hands with you.

Rkatsiteli originates from Georgia (Russia) and Wikipedia seeks a source verifying whether it was enjoyed extensively throughout the USSR, accounting for 18% of all wine production. The 2007 Westport Rivers Rkatsiteli is hailed to be the best vintage yet by a member of the Russell family. It's a delicious, medium-bodied white with great fruit flavors balanced with a nice touch of acidity and followed by a strong, lasting finish. The finish could be attributed to the meal I just ate, seared pork alfredo with a touch of chili garlic sauce.

Shameless self-promotion: Try this with charcuterie, things like SDLT's duck liver mousse with a glass of both the Westport RJR and the 2007 Rkatsiteli. Tues. & Weds. after 9 pm are charcuterie bar nights, $10 all you can eat, downstairs bar.

Stay tuned for reviews on some of the following, including their rare Pineau de Pinot, a distilled Pinot Noir blended with fermented Pinot Noir juice.

I've experienced many of their wines:

Rose of Pinot Noir (drank on the beach with rabbit and duck filled charcuterie items from Formaggio Kitchen, Cambridge).

2007 Chardonnay sporting low acidity, slightly creamy texture, and flavors of gala apple.

2001 Westport Imperial Sec, offering a slight sweetness mingling with stone fruit, then subdued by a rush of its lovely effervescence into a long, vibrant finish.

1993 Maximillian, their Tête de Cuvée, is aged on the lees for 15 years before disgorgement, creating a deliciously complex sparkling wine with beautiful gold colors and a firework show of bubbles.

1999 Blanc de Blancs

2001 Blanc de Noirs

2003/04 Westport Rivers RJR

non-vintage Pinot Gris

2006 Rkatsiteli