Estate Argyros Assyrtiko 2016
- Decanter
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Robert
Parker -
Wine &
Spirits -
Wine
Enthusiast
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
This wine represents that greatest expression of the estate terroir. Subtle oak influence highlights earthy flavor of Assyrtiko. This wine has a steely acidity, and shows fine tension on the finish.
Pair this Assyrtiko with fatty fish, oysters, poultry, pork and smoked cheeses.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
A little reserved at the moment, but the palate is generous, with weight and structure at the same time. Has lovely mouthfeel and roundness, the refreshing acidity hiding well a warming effect from the alcohol. Really long and mouth-coating.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Assyrtiko is the screwcapped version, not the upper-level Estate Santorini that has some oak. As with last year's comparison of the Atlantis blend and this "regular" Assyrtiko, the difference here is less in concentration (although it has just a little more) than in a bit more steel and a juicier, tighter finish. This year, too, it adds gloriously fresh fruit, finishing with waves of up-front flavor that not all Assyrtiko delivers. This walks down the middle of the road, showing precision and focus, but it also has a fruitier demeanor than the upper level usually produces. It's a nice compromise. It should make people swoon while it is young and fresh. I am a little less sure of what becomes of it as it ages, but it will hold reasonably well, too.
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Wine & Spirits
Matthew Argyros crafts this wine from his oldest vines and vinifies about ten percent in used oak barrels. It feels electric, as if the acidity is illuminating the wine from inside, giving the lemony fruit a crisp snap. Any richness from the oak reads only in the wines embrace, emanating a warmth like sun off stones. It"s ready now, for a grilled whole fish."
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Wine Enthusiast
The nose of this wine is full of lemon and lime zest, sea salt and stone notes. Its fresh citrus flavors are hemmed in by zesty minerality, offering complexity and a lingering finish. One of Santorinis best whites, hands down."
Other Vintages
2015-
Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast
Founded in 1903, the Argyros Estate is located on the island of Santorini, famed for its spiraling vines and white washed churches. In 1950, the Argyros vineyards were passed down to the founder’s son, who tripled the estate from 5 to 15 acres. Yiannis Argyros, the third-generation owner of the estate who took over in 1974, began looking beyond the local market for his wines. The inorganic soil of the island of Santorini is naturally immune to Phylloxera and many other vineyard pests, reducing the need for synthetic herbicides & pesticides. Estate Argyros practices sustainable viticulture, using composted grape must as fertilizer, and plowing the vineyards with mules.
The estate vineyards are located primarily in Episkopi and Pyrgos, which are prime locations for Assyrtiko. The ungrafted vines range in age from 30 to over 150 years, and are trained into basket-shaped bowls, a traditional technique called ""kouloura"". Today, Mathew Argyros, the fourth generation of family winemakers, continues his father's legacy by making legendary wines from Assyrtiko and other indigenous Santorinian varietals, using traditional techniques.