Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Alpha Estate Turtles Vineyard Malagouzia is brilliantly, light yellow in color with greenish tints. Strong and lively nose with hints of rose petal, other floral aromas, sweet spices, melon, lychee nut with a note of honeysuckle. A richly textured wine with superb length and balance. A classy wine with long finish and persistent aromas.
This wine pairs excellent alongside green salads, baked vegetables, pasta, low-fat fishes and a wide variety of Greek sea food.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Malagouzia Turtles Vineyard when last seen was pretty terrific, but the one question I had was how (or if) it might hold. Well, the exuberance and freshness certainly appear differently now, a little more balanced and mature, but this is surprisingly perfect, a little tense, still fresh and able to hold for days without a problem. This is showing off its structure and preening in its ability to develop and age gracefully. How much longer? Let's continue to be conservative and take that in stages, but the pressure to drink it very young is certainly mitigated. That said, it is pretty super right now. Best after 2022
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Decanter
Subtle nose of wild spring flowers, white plums, mineral and limestone. Palate is dry with a mouthwatering freshness and a long, basil finish. Terrific!
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.