Winemaker Notes
A wine of pale ruby colour, medium aromatic intensity. On the nose, it delivers red fruit dominated by red cherry, raspberry, cranberry, and red plums; black fruit mainly bramble, damson, black cherries, and black plums; herbaceous aromas, such as tomato leaf, tomato paste, olives; spice such as allspice. Fruit is enveloped in restrained oak influence giving aromas of vanilla, cream, and butterscotch. On the palate, the wine is dry, with medium + acidity, medium body, framed by fine-grained medium + tannins, firm but suave versus red, black fruit extract, a layer of botanical flavours and medium alcohol. It displays medium intensity of flavours but persistent and vibrant finish. Its tannins and acidity levels are balanced versus fruit and alcohol integration; a clean, elegant easygoing start on the palate but followed with layers of complexity, juiciness and characteristic herbs. This vintage can be enjoyed now but can be kept for bottle ageing as it has enough tannins to be resolved, acidity and fruit.
Native to Greece, Xinomavro is widely regarded the finest red wine of the country. Its name literally means “acid black”, and attains fullest potential in the country’s northwest region of Naoussa. These single varietal bottlings of Xinomavro (blending is not allowed here) are often compared to the fine Barolos of Italy for their structure, finesse and age-worthiness. While its vines are fickle and blue-black grapes grow in tight clusters, similar to Nebbiolo, Xinomavro actually appears unrelated. Somm Secret—The use of French oak can help tame Xinomavro but too much can overwhelm it. Some eschew oak entirely during winemaking; other producers use locally-grown walnut.
Naoussa is home to one of Greece’s most age-worthy reds: Xinomavro. Flourishing on the sun-exposed, southeastern-facing slopes of Mount Vermio between 700 to 1,700 feet in elevation, some say Xinomavro is Greece's red counterpart to its famous white, Assyrtiko. Others liken it to Italy's well-respected, highly perfumed and powerful, Nebbiolo.