Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
The Kir-Yianni 2021 Naoussa Xinomavro Ramnista Single Vineyard captures the elegance and refinement of this flagship northern Greek variety. Compared to the warmer 2022 vintage, it shows greater aromatic precision with notes of dark fruit and the subtle dried tomato nuance that is characteristic of Xinomavro. The palate is expressive and finely balanced, with polished tannins that provide structure without sacrificing finesse. Sourced from nine vineyard blocks and aged for 14 months in French oak, Ramnista remains one of the benchmark expressions of Naoussa Xinomavro.
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.