Abavas Rabarberu Dzirkstvīns Brut

When Jana contacted me to ask if I’d like to try the products of Abavas, one of the largest family-owned wine producers in Latvia, she advertised their Rabarberu Dzirkstvīns Brut by saying that their sparkling wine made from rhubarb completely sold out within a few hours after launching in the German online store Wine in Black. Indeed, when I checked the website, all I could see at the time was ‘AUSVERKAUFT’ – sold out. I was very intrigued by this fact and couldn’t wait to try it! Company: SIA Abavas dārzi, “Kalējkrāmi”
Place of Origin: Slampes country, Tukuma region, Latvia
Ingredients: rhubarb
Sweetness as per label: brut
ABV: 12%
Package type: 750ml champagne corked bottle
Recommended type of glass: flute or wine glass

Appearance: pours a clear golden with a reddish hue and a short-lived white head. High natural carbonation. Body is low to medium.

Aroma/Nose: I didn’t even have to take a sniff. I could get a strong rhubarb, light cannabis note although the glass was 30 cm away.  Also, the aroma is lightly sweet.

Taste: the first sip is dry and alcoholic, but the alcohol note gets weaker with time. Only low acidity, a rhubarb stem with a lightly salty note, cannabis and vinous note and delicate astringency. Finishes dry leaving a long and lightly acidic aftertaste with lingering notes of rhubarb stem and leaves and a light astringent note.

Overall: Abavas has one of the most beautiful bottles, labels and corks. So their Rabarberu Dzirkstvins Brut already by looking at the bottle makes an impression of a really special high-end wine. And, the bottle content is unique indeed. The aroma literally pours out of the glass. Actually, I could get the aroma from the distance of 30cm. I checked! Also, it’s refreshing, complex and nicely structured palate lingers on and on. If only the alcoholic note at the start, which I found quite disturbing, weren’t that strong. But if you put this note aside you get an absolutely brilliant wine with an exceptional aroma and length. Interestingly, if you are a cannabis fan you may even pick up a cannabis note. Seriously! The more I drink it the more I love it. No wonder it sold out that fast. 4.5/6 

Availability: in Germany from Wine in Black (back in stock!) and Foodist, in Tallinn from Siidrimaja, in Finland from ALKO, in Latvia from Spirit & Wines, in the Netherlands from CiderCider, in Belgium from Cideris, in Russia in Redrum Bar in St. Petersburg. In Italy from Compagnia dei Caraibi.

Price: Rabarberu Dzirkstvins Brut was a sample provided to Cider Explorer