Tag Archives: greece

Alpha Estate Single Vineyard Turtles Malagouzia 2021, Amyndaio, Greece

28 Friday Jun 2024

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Pale lemon with some green tint and a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of pineapple, tangerine, melon, papaya, lanolin, crisp white pear and peach.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body.  Flavors of white pear, peach, melon, papaya and mixed citrus make for a delightful flavor bouquet.  The finish is crisp, clean, and mouthwatering.  It last 10-15 seconds and makes me reach for another sip.  Delicious and showing complexity, this wine is a treat that I will pair with oysters.  It gets 91 points from me and for $22 it’s a 5 star wine to stock up on.   Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Boutari Agiorgitiko 2021, Nemea HQ, Greece

21 Friday Jun 2024

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Medium garnet colored with high viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity  aromas of black cherry, earth, licorice, bramble berry, caramel, blackcurrant, baking spice, cracked black pepper and singed alder.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body and medium (+) tannins that are quite astringent.  Flavors of black cherry, bramble berry, black currant, caramel and licorice dominate with some charred wood and black pepper notes alongside baking spices.  The finish is medium in length and the astringency disappears, leaving some generous fruit notes.  It all balances out in the end after the dry opening that was a bit disjointed.  I like this super dry wine and will be pairing it with grilled Sirloins.  89 points from me for this $18 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2029.  Salut….

Kourtaki Mavrodaphne of Patras NV, Peloponnese, Greece

24 Friday May 2024

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Medium garnet colored with high viscosity (15% ABV), which is expected.  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of prune, baked strawberry, walnut, raisins, soaked oak, (wafting alcohol, burning my nostrils!) and dried herbs.  The palate is sweet with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium tannins.  Flavors of stewed and baked plums, strawberry and blueberry with walnuts, raisins and old oak.  The finish is long, held that way by the potent alcohol yet nicely balanced with acidity and a a touch of tannic grip.  I love dessert wines so this one is a treat to savor after our grilled steaks with blue cheese sauce.  Drink this non-vintage wine on purchase. It gets 87 points from me and for $13, 3 stars. Salut….

Tsantali Naoussa 2018, Macedonia, Greece

21 Tuesday May 2024

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Pale to medium garnet with copper highlights and low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of brambleberry, red plum, cloves, coffee, mint, coconut shavings, cedar.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins that fade fast.  Flavors are medium in intensity and give me red fruit, some oak integration with cedar, cloves, coffee and mint but the coconut I thought I smelled is not present.  The finish is pleasant and medium in length with the tannins surprisingly tickling under my tongue.  I like this fun Xinomavro and will be pairing it with grilled lamb chops, middle eastern rice and pickles.  88 points and for $18, it gets 3 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Kir-Yianni ‘The Fallen Oak’ 2019, PGI Imathia, Macedonia, Greece

23 Tuesday Apr 2024

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Xinomavro, Merlot and Syrah blend has medium (-) intensity aromas of black raspberry, black plum, lilac, mulberry, licorice, coffee, vanilla and bilberry.  It’s quite an interesting nose that gains some power as it opens.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are a touch green.  Flavors of blackberry, bilberry, black raspberry, plum with coffee, vanilla and a hint of purple licorice are balanced by the firm structure of tannins and acidity.  It’s a pretty bold wine with nice fruit that lingers on a medium length finish.  The tannins are the last to bow out leaving my mouth slightly dried out but wanting more.  I am mixing up some Chimmichurri to go with cast-iron prepared Hanger steaks with Korean sweet potatoes and green beans, should work a treat.  92 points from me for this $20 effort makes it a 5 star wine to buy again.   Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Alexakis Winery Kotsifali – Syrah 2016, PGI Crete, Greece

11 Thursday Apr 2024

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Deep garnet with slight bricking and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of dried red plum, desiccated raspberry, bacon, game, dried lavender, baking spices, cocoa, espresso and purple licorice.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins with a medium body.  Flavors of drying red fruit, game and dried herbs combine with some cocoa, coffee and licorice nuance.  The finish is quite long and tends towards forest floor notes along with smoky oak.  I like this wine but feel it is at peak or just past.  The entry fee is $18 to try out this indigenous Cretian variety that has been blended with Syrah for some structure.  88 points from me and 4 stars.  Salut….

Kotrotsos Mavrodaphne 2018, Patras, Greece

14 Monday Aug 2023

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Pale garnet, almost like strawberry juice- with high viscosity (15% ABV).  On the nose I get stewed cherry, some warm nuts, orange peel, strawberry coulis, caramel and vanilla bean.  The palate is sweet, bordering on luscious, with low tannins and a full body.  The red fruit really comes out, but not quite so ripe as the nose.  Caramel and nuts with vanilla on the back end.  Medium length on the finish, it’s a delicious affair if you like them this sweet.  I plan on pairing this with poached pears and ice cream.  Not overly complex, it only runs $14 and get 88 points from me making it a 4 star effort to drink now.  Salut….

Kotrotsos Moschofilero 2021, Pelopennese, Greece

14 Monday Nov 2022

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Pale lemon colored with medium intensity aromas of lush tropical fruit- pineapple, papaya and kiwi fruit intermingled with pear, rose petals and bruised red apple.  The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity and medium body.  Flavors of papaya and pear dominate with kiwi and bruised red apple supporting. The papaya and apple both have a unique, overripe accent that makes this quite interesting and adds to the body of this lush wine.  It has a medium length finish with a touch of astringency from almond seed that I find intriguing.  This is an interesting varietal that I am thoroughly enjoying.  Tonight I am pairing it with Chinese inspired dishes including some spicy chili infused plates.  I believe the wine will stand up to the heat and complexity of the fare.  89 points for this $18 wine makes it a 4 star effort to try out.  Drink now.  Salut….

Hermes Retsina NV, Peloponnese, Greece

18 Tuesday Oct 2022

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This is yet another style of wine I have never tried- Retsina from Greece.  This one is pale lemon colored and has a very unique set of aromas.  Resin, pear drop, wet wood, lemon verbena and dare I say it….vomit?  The palate is bone dry with high acidity and a light body.  The flavors are also very unique, starting with that resinous note along with freshly sawed green wood, lemon, pine needles and green pear.  The finish is short to medium in length and tart.  An interesting wine, probably not something I will rush out to replenish but it was worth the try.  I can’t score this $11 offering at this point but you should really get one for yourself.  I am pairing it with tacos, the spices will do well with the dryness and acidity of this unique wine.  Salut….

Hermes Mavrodaphne Of Patras NV, Greece

08 Saturday Oct 2022

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I went looking for Port and this bottle popped onto my radar.  A sweet red Greek wine that has a pale garnet hue.  The nose is interesting, unlike any other wine I have smelled.  Baking spices with stewed black cherry and baked plum.  There’s also a cola component that is throwing me off!  The palate is obviously not dry- I would say off-dry but not cloying.  The first thing I notice is the heat (15%ABV).  Next up I get medium (-) acidity and low tannins.  Flavorwise- loads of stewed/baked/cooked dark fruit with spice and cherry cola.  A medium to full body on this delight leads me to a medium length finish that also shows off the alcohol.  I like the flavor profile, the mouthfeel and the structure.  I just think the alcohol is presenting itself too much.  This wine reminds me of a lightweight Tawny Port.  I might use some to bolster a stock I am making for Sunday roast, burning off the alcohol to reveal the fruit and spice better.  I might also pour some with my cheese course.  This is my first try of this style so I will not grade it- but you should try for yourself.  At $15, it’s an easy buy.  Salut….