Dr. Konstantin Frank Rkatsiteli 2009

I've been wanting to try the Dr. Konstantin Frank Rkatsiteli (Ar KATS see telly) ever since I first heard of it.  Why I waited till now, who knows?  But finally I have one to taste.

Not widely known about in western markets, this ancient white grape variety is broadly distributed across eastern European vineyards – mostly in former Soviet states like the Ukraine and Bulgaria. Its accepted origin is in Georgia’s Caucasus Mountains bordering Armenia and Turkey. Here, the grape is known as Rkatsiteii and it still dominates wine production, accounting for up to half of the total volume of this most historic of wine producing nations.
Rkatsiteli yields good sugar levels in cold climates and has a high natural acidity. It makes noticeably acidic but balanced white wines with a full flavor profile and good body. Relatively floral and spicy aromatics are somewhat reminiscent of Gewürztraminer and Riesling, and a lively spritz on the tongue adds to the appealing character of this quality grape variety.
Tonight I opened a Dr. Konstantin Frank Rkatsiteli 2009 ($15)

Color was light, bright with a greenish hue, sort of like a Sauvignon Blanc.
I found the wine to be anything but sweet. Very dry aromas of wildflowers, apricot, asparagus and a little lemon.  In the mouth a taste of peach and lemon, but a bit of acidity.  A very long citrusy finish. I wish I could make my description sound better, because this was a very delicious wine.  I opened on a very hot evening just to sip while watching baseball on TV.  I did try with some light Havarti cheese and was pleased with the pairing. Also think this is what I was looking for to pair with Shirley's halupkis(stuffed cabbage).  Always had a hard time with that pairing.