Winemaker Notes
This is an indigenous cretan grape that is fermented in stainless steel and aged for nine months in used oak barrels. Ruby color. Fruity, spicy nose. Round mellow texture. Elegant, mouthfilling. Sure to delight any Liatiko fan.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Liatiko Dafnios, from a grape little known outside of Crete, was aged for eight months in an equal mixture of new and used French oak. It comes in at 13.7% alcohol. This has been seen before, but it is always interesting to see how these lighter, fresher reds hold, especially since the 2016 is now here. This hardly seems to have budged since it was seen last year. Its structure is more impressive than its depth, but the vivid flavor is the most impressive part of this wine. As before, it has a raspberry tart nuance, given the hit of acidity that enlivens it. It reminds me of some cooler-climate Pinot Noir. It is a great choice for a summer red, in other words. It tastes great, but it is so refreshing that it will seem lively too. The fruit is always fresh and lifted. You can also drink it a bit on the cooler side and probably should. It will be interesting to see how it holds over the long haul, but right now it is very young and still rather tight, with a hit of tannins on the finish. The structure is downright impressive, actually. Between the acidity and the tannins, there should be no rush. It might even be better in a year or two. I've become a serious fan of this exuberant bottling. It's a super value too.
Beyond the usual suspects, there are hundreds of red grape varieties grown throughout the world. Some are indigenous specialties capable of producing excellent single varietal wines, while others are better suited for use as blending grapes. Each has its own distinct viticultural characteristics, as well as aroma and flavor profiles, offering much to be discovered by the curious wine lover. In particular, Portugal and Italy are known for having a multitude of unique varieties but they can really be found in any region.
As one of Greece’s largest island’s, its wines enjoyed high glory during the Middle Ages. Today Crete is full of ambitious winemakers with the city of Heraklion as its viticultural hub.
DMDDF15_2015 Item# 187945