Winemaker Notes
On the nose-bright citrus notes (lemon/lime) with touch of white flowers and saline quality. On the palate-high tone acidity, evident stony minerality with concentrated citrus and red orchard fruit, a dry, crisp wine that shows depth and a long complex finish. Potential for ageing is 10 years.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
This is lean and herbal, an austere assyrtiko with a sleek, fine texture. Decant it to get beyond the initial reductive smokiness, and serve with grilled fish.
A crisp white variety full of zippy acidity, Assyrtiko comes from the volcanic Greek island of Santorini but is grown increasingly wide throughout the country today. Assyrtiko’s popularity isn’t hard to explain: it retains its acid and mineral profile in a hot climate, stands alone or blends well with other grapes and can also withstand some age. Somm Secret—On the fairly barren, windswept Mediterranean island of Santorini, Assyrtiko vines must be cultivated in low baskets, pinned to the ground. The shape serves to preserve moisture and protect the growing grapes in its interior.
As one of the few continental-climate, mountainous growing areas of Greece, Macedonia produces notable, high-quality red wines. Xinomavro is its star variety, capable of making a spicy and age-worthy red.