Abrau Durso Reserve – a new quality of tank method sparkling wines

Russian Wine House Abrau-Durso proudly presents its collection of Abrau Durso Reserve tank method sparkling wines. To create this range, only the cuvée is used — the first pressing juice of selected grapes harvested at the Abrau-Durso vineyards. An essential advantage of Abrau Durso Reserve is its longer aging period of at least ninety days. These wines are notable for their lightness, freshness, vivid bouquet and set a new quality standard for the entire category.

The Abrau Durso Reserve collection is made from classic European grape varieties: Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. All of the sparkling wine production phases — from the selection of a vineyard plot to assemblage and bottling — are personally supervised by Georges Blanc, the Abrau-Durso Group Wine Director.

An important advantage of the new lineup is its longer aging period, at least ninety days, evidenced by the word “Reserve” on the label. This is three times as long as the traditional aging period for tank (Charmat) method sparkling wines. The excellent quality of Abrau Durso Reserve has already been praised by the leading winemaking experts both in Russia and internationally. Russia’s most prestigious tasting competition AWWR Cup — 2021 named Abrau Durso Reserve Brut Rose its Grand Prix winner as the Best Charmat Method Sparkling Wine. The second wine of the collection, Abrau Durso Reserve Brut, won an AWWR Cup — 2021 silver medal.

Abrau Durso Reserve Brut is a sparkling brut produced by the Charmat method and is an assemblage of classic European varieties: Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Blanc. Its bouquet strikes with bright tones of green apple, Williams pear and acacia flowers, hints of spicy herbs and honey. The taste has a tangible structure and invigorating acidity. The fresh, crisp aftertaste continues with notes of green apple, lime zest and lemon.

Abrau Durso Reserve Brut Rose is a brut rose produced from red Pinot Noir, Pinot Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is finely balanced, exquisite and versatile at the same time. The bouquet of this deep color brut rose with lush mousse is dominated by tones of fresh red forest berries — raspberries, cherries and strawberries — as well as seductive nuances of raspberry jam foam and garden strawberries with cream. Additional aging on the lees ensures its rounded and gentle flavor with fresh acidity and aftertaste with elegant notes of spicy herbs.

“We set ourselves a challenge to come up with an entirely new level of quality in Charmat sparkling wines. The Abrau Durso Reserve wines have a fresh, crisp taste with bright fruit notes, along with a soft, creamy texture, and are perfectly balanced,” says Georges Blanc, Wine Director of Abrau Durso Group.

The excellence of the Abrau Durso Reserve sparkling wines is accentuated by the design of the line. The noble matte black glass with an embossed gold label emphasizes the elegant balance of taste and bouquet. The Abrau Durso Reserve wines were made in 2021 in a limited series of 500,000 bottles and are already available at Abrau Durso Wine Atelier stores, and will soon appear across federal chains. The anticipated output for 2022 will not exceed 2 million bottles. The retail price of the new Abrau Durso Reserve wines at Abrau Durso Wine Atelier stores in Moscow is RUB 495.

Additional information

Kuban protected geographical indication (PGI) Abrau Durso Reserve Brut White sparkling wine

• Vintage: 2020.
• Ingredients: Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Blanc.
• Alcohol: 11%.

Kuban protected geographical indication (PGI) Abrau Durso Reserve Brut Rose sparkling wine

• Vintage: 2020.
• Ingredients: Pinot Noir, Pinot Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Alcohol: 11.5%.