Alpha Estate Malagouzia Turtles Vineyard 2014
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Robert
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Spectator
Product Details
Winemaker Notes
100% Malagouzia, an ancient grape varietal producing highly aromatic wines with a round and soft palate. The wines are from P.G.I. Florina in north-west Greece. The grapes are destemmed and fermented in stainless steel under temperature control and aged 2 months on the lees.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 Malagouzia "Turtles Vineyard" was previously marketed as the Axia Malagouzia. It is now referenced by name as a single-vineyard wine instead of being marketed under the Axia brand name. This was just bottled at the end of November, 2014. It is unoaked and comes in at 12.5% alcohol. Not seeming particularly lush this year, it is, however, tightly wound and extremely aromatic, with some viscosity on the finish. In fact, some three days later, it coats the mouth beautifully and is even better than on opening. With a touch of grassiness on opening, fine focus and good, if subtle, concentration for this grape (Alpha's Sauvignon reviewed this issue is certainly deeper), this is another winner in the series. I wasn't 100% convinced on Day 1, but on Day 2 it was simply wonderful, a bit more pointed, tighter, more focused, and most importantly, more expressive as it aired and warmed. The purity of fruit was glorious. It was completely transparent. I actually liked it best on Day 3. That sealed the deal for me. Every time I underestimated this, it proved me wrong. This is subtle, but there are layers lurking underneath. Give this a few months to settle in--it is not yet fully expressive--and then drink it relatively young for best results. It might hold well for a few years. It may yet wind up being Alpha's best Malagouzia yet, but let's see how it handles a little aging. I suspect most will have it drunk it up later this summer, or next in any event.
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Wine Spectator
Rich and flush with fresh-cut green apple, honeydew melon and grapefruit flavors that feature a vibrant minerality. Delivers hints of savory herbs, leading to a lush finish of cream and spice. Drink now through 2018.
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Alpha Estate is a winery located in the depths of Amyndeon's finest pastures. Alpha represents the "new beginning", the "birth" of a new era in the world of Greek wine. Makis Mavridis, a third generation skilled grapegrower, and Angelos Iatridis, the winemaker, educated in Bordeaux, trained in France, Italy and Greece and ''good father'' to many international well known Greek wines, planted a 65ha vineyard in the Amyndeon region in the late 1990's.
The creation of a privately owned estate vineyard was an enormous and pioneering investment at the time, which signalled the birth of pilot-structured vinicultural exploitation. Our on-going mission is to make wines that bring out the true characteristics of the region they originate from, wines that can reveal the characteristics of the soil, the climate and the typicity of the grape varieties they are made from.
Contribution of the human factor is indispensable to achieve our final goal, which is the production of grapes of the highest quality potential. The wines produced from such grapes are powerful and complex, displaying an intense fruity flavour and excellent balance. The company devotes a tremendous effort in improving the quality of its wines, through carefully planed investments and research programs, in collaboration with many research institutes. The success of these programs allows the company to evaluate permanently the quality and the character of its wine from one "vintage" to the next.
Awarded Wine & Spirits Top 100 Wineries of 2021.
There are hundreds of white grape varieties grown throughout the world. Some are indigenous specialties capable of producing excellent single varietal wines. Each has its own distinct viticultural characteristics, as well as aroma and flavor profiles.
A picturesque Mediterranean nation with a rich wine culture dating back to ancient times, Greece has so much more to offer than just retsina. Between the mainland and the country’s many islands, a wealth of Greek wine styles exists, made mostly from Greece’s plentiful indigenous varieties. After centuries of adversity after Ottoman rule, the modern Greek wine industry took off in the late 20th century with an influx of newly trained winemakers and investments in winemaking technology.
The climate—generally hot Mediterranean—can vary a bit with latitude and elevation, and is mostly moderated by cool maritime breezes. Drought can be an issue for Greek wine during the long, dry summers, sometimes necessitating irrigation.
Over 300 indigenous grapes have been identified throughout Greece, and though not all of them are suitable for wine production, future decades will likely see a significant revival and refinement of many of these native Greek wine varieties. Assyrtiko, the crisp, saline Greek wine variety of the island of Santorini, is one of the most important and popular white wine varieties, alongside Roditis, Robola, Moschofilero, and Malagousia. Muscat is also widely grown for both sweet and dry wines. Prominent red wine varieties include full-bodied and fruity Agiorghitiko, native to Nemea; Macedonia’s savory, tannic Xinomavro; and Mavrodaphne, used commonly to produce a Port-like fortified wine in the Peloponnese.