Winemaker Notes
A wine of medium ruby color, medium aromatic intensity. Powerful nose of sumptuous red fruit dominated by raspberry, cranberry and red plums; black fruit mainly blueberry, bramble, mulberry, damson, black cherries and black plums; the herbaceous hallmark of Xinomavro expressed as tomato leaf and tomato paste; spice such as licorice. The clarity of fruit is ingrained with carefully managed oak boasting aromas of vanilla, cloves, coconut, coffee and butterscotch. On the palate, the wine is dense and solidly built. Dry, with medium acidity, medium body, framed by lacy, fine-grained high tannins, versus generous red and black fruit extract and medium alcohol. It displays pronounced intensity of flavors and a long finish. It is balancing its high tannic grip and acidity levels versus fruit extract and alcohol integration; it is intense, complex with compelling and expressive aromas. An elegant rendition of Xinomavro, yet succinct, robust with clear varietal definition, well-crafted tannins to be resolved and concentrated fruit to support it for the longer haul. This wine is for long keeping during which it will develop even more complex aromas from bottle ageing.
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.