Winemaker Notes
Savatiano is characterized by ripe green apple, lime juice, honeydew melon and lemon curd. The fruit is supported by distinct crushed shells and saline minerality with an underling fresh sage and resin. The wine is dry, rich and medium-full bodied and moderate acid.
A great pairing with seafood or lean cuts of fish; pasta and risotto with asparagus, fresh green salads, fried rice and fried appetizers.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Mylonas Winery 2023 Savatiano has aromas of honey, hay, peach and something a little exotic like celery root. I am reminded of alfalfa sprouts. It's an individualistic wine that's neither too fruity nor floral, but it has its own vegetal character. This release of 30,000 bottles sources its fruit from 55-year-old vines planted on sandy-clay limestone soils. Winemaking is simple, with fermentation in stainless steel and a brief three months on the lees with stirring.
There are hundreds of white grape varieties grown throughout the world. Some are indigenous specialties capable of producing excellent single varietal wines. Each has its own distinct viticultural characteristics, as well as aroma and flavor profiles.
A picturesque Mediterranean nation with a rich wine culture dating back to ancient times, Greece has so much more to offer than just retsina. Between the mainland and the country’s many islands, a wealth of Greek wine styles exists, made mostly from Greece’s plentiful indigenous varieties. After centuries of adversity after Ottoman rule, the modern Greek wine industry took off in the late 20th century with an influx of newly trained winemakers and investments in winemaking technology.
The climate—generally hot Mediterranean—can vary a bit with latitude and elevation, and is mostly moderated by cool maritime breezes. Drought can be an issue for Greek wine during the long, dry summers, sometimes necessitating irrigation.
Over 300 indigenous grapes have been identified throughout Greece, and though not all of them are suitable for wine production, future decades will likely see a significant revival and refinement of many of these native Greek wine varieties. Assyrtiko, the crisp, saline Greek wine variety of the island of Santorini, is one of the most important and popular white wine varieties, alongside Roditis, Robola, Moschofilero, and Malagousia. Muscat is also widely grown for both sweet and dry wines. Prominent red wine varieties include full-bodied and fruity Agiorghitiko, native to Nemea; Macedonia’s savory, tannic Xinomavro; and Mavrodaphne, used commonly to produce a Port-like fortified wine in the Peloponnese.