Greece Wineries A - M

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1 Greece Wineries A - M By Derek Smedley MW Last Updated 11/18/2016 Derek Smedley MW, Rectory Cottage, Lilley, Hertfordshire, LU2 8LU.

2 August 05, 2012 GREECE Tasting notes from the following growers: Contents Alexakis... 4 Crete... 4 Alpha Estate... 5 Amyndeon... 5 Gentilini... 5 Island of Kefalonia... 5 Kourtaki... 6 Markopoulo... 6 Attica... 6 Ktima Gerovassiliou... 6 Epanomi... 6 Kir Yanni... 7 Naoussa... 7 Château Semeli & Domaine Helios... 7 Attica & Nemea... 7 Lyrarkis Crete Mediterra Winery Crete Mercouri Estate Ichthis Peninsula Peloponnese Monemvasia Winery Monemvasia Peloponnese Master of Wine: Derek Smedley 2

3 GREECE August 05, Master of Wine: Derek Smedley Master of Wine: Derek Smedley

4 August 05, 2012 GREECE Greece Wineries A - M Tasted in Greece in June 2009 Tasted on other occasions see date & place in italics Growers / Wineries are in alphabetical order with area underneath Alexakis Crete White Wines Vidiano Vidiano 100% Lime and lemon fresh the nose is fragrant and bright the start of the palate racy. Grapefruit a hint of tropical fruit gives a little more depth in the middle but the back palate is fresh fruited with a mineral quality. Handakas-Candia Vilana 85% Vidiano Athiri Assyrtiko 15% The nose has lemon blossom fragrances lots of white flowers the palate fresh and starts quite light. Hints of sweetness give more depth in the middle the lime and lemon mix at the back refreshing the finish long with lingering fragrances. Dandelion Athiri Athiri 10% The nose is full of fruit the start of the palate rich with melon and grapefruit a balance of sweetness and freshness. Layers of fruit add to the complexity the sweetness at the back balanced by citrus on the finish. Kotsifali-Syrah Kotsifali 60% Syrah 40% Master of Wine: Derek Smedley 4

5 GREECE August 05, 2012 Pepper and spice the red fruited nose is fresh the start of the palate light. Red cherry in the middle gives slightly more depth quite firm but at the back fresh red fruits are very much to the fore the finish light. Alpha Estate Amyndeon White Wines Turtles Single Vineyard Malagousia Malagousia 100% Spring flowers the nose has a mix of fragrances attractively floral. Light and fresh at the start the mid palate has more depth grapefruit and a hint mango some pear with lemon very much in evidence at the back the finish light fragrant fresh. Estate Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc 100% Refreshing on the nose the palate very citrus dominated a mix of lime and lemon. Grapefruit in the middle gives a little more depth the back palate crisp citrusy slate and mineral. Estate Reserve Old Vines Xinomavro Xinomavro 100% Bramble blueberries the nose has a fresh appeal the start of the palate light a fragrant mix of fruits. Black cherry gives firmness in the middle with fresher black fruits giving lighter feel on the long finish. Estate Red Syrah 60% Xinomavro 20% Merlot 20% The nose has red fruit freshness the palate a mix of redcurrant and bramble layers of flavour. Rich in the middle the fruit is sweet and ripe brighter at the back with peppery red fruits and bramble. Gentilini Island of Kefalonia 5 Master of Wine: Derek Smedley Master of Wine: Derek Smedley

6 August 05, 2012 GREECE White Wines Robola Robola 100% The greengage and pear on the nose and the start of the palate give richness and depth of flavour. Citrus in the middle refreshes and the back palate feels lighter quite crisp but it fills out on the finish with a lovely depth of flavour. Eclipse Mavrodaphne 100% Rich on the nose the palate has lots of chocolate fleshy with ripe fruit. Black fruits tend to dominate their ripeness adding to the supple richness. Bramble at the back does help to lighten the finish. Kourtaki Markopoulo Attica Sweet Cameo Mavrodaphne of Patras NV 92 Tasted in the Carlton Club September 2016 The nose has an aromatic mix of dried fruit the palate is rich sweet with prunes and figs ripe and fleshy. There is an underlying freshness balance slightly lighter at the back the finish rich with ripe damsons, figs, prunes and raisins. Ktima Gerovassiliou Epanomi White Wines Malagousia White peach apricot the nose has depth the palate richness. Grapefruit and some lime refresh the mid palate the mix of fruits adding to the complexity. Sweeter at the back there is lots of flavour depth of fruit on the finish. Master of Wine: Derek Smedley 6

7 GREECE August 05, 2012 White Blend Malagousia 50% Assyrtiko 50% Both nose and palate has bitter sweetness the ripe melon underpinned by steely minerals and lime. The backbone of mineral and fresh fruit is backed by richer flavours a hint of tropical fruits with the mix of flavours lingering on the finish. Viognier Peach and apricot the nose has depth and the palate lots of rich fruit. Ripe and fleshy in the middle layers of flavour the apricot richness balanced by some underlying citrus. The flavours linger on the long finish. Avaton Limnio 50% Mavroudi 25% Mavro Tragano 25% Fleshy and rich on the nose the palate has black fruited depth ripe tannins and mid suppleness. Ripe black plum is backed by slightly firmer black cherry and although fresher at the back the finish is rich with lots of sweet powerful black fruits. Kir Yanni Naoussa Diaphoros Xinomavro 92% Syrah 8% The nose is firm the start of the palate tight with a mix of red and black fruits. It opens up in the middle layers of flavour lots of complexity black cherry and bramble showing strongly on the finish. The Wineries of George & Anne Kokotos Château Semeli & Domaine Helios Attica & Nemea George Kokotos and his wife Anne have two estates in Greece both producing world beating wines. The first one is on the slopes of Mount Pendeli in the lands of Dionysus and his mother 7 Master of Wine: Derek Smedley Master of Wine: Derek Smedley

8 August 05, 2012 GREECE Semeli, it is mother who has given her name to the winery. The estate of some 10 hectares focuses on hand crafted wines from both international and local grape varieties. The second property is Domaine Helios in the Nemea region of the Peloponnese and like Semeli maintains the commitment to quality by the attention to detail in both vineyard and winery. Whilst at Semeli there are some international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay at Helios focus is on local varieties, the red Agiorgitiko, the pink skinned Moschofilero making lovely whites and Roditis again producing whites with real character. June 2009 White Wines Semeli White Attica Savatiano The nose is packed with fruit, the apricot underpinned by mown grass and backed by hints of vanilla. The citrus mix gives a lovely freshness on the palate, the racy flavours well balanced by slightly richer apricot and white peach. Oreinos Helios White 2008 (Mountain Sun White) Peloponnese Moschofilero 90% Roditis 10% The nose has a charming rose petal fragrance underpinned by intense and distinctive flavours. Lemon and grapefruit give freshness whilst melon adds some flesh and weight. The mid palate is crisp with citrus acidity and minerals this freshness though balanced by fleshier melon. Château Semeli Chardonnay Attica The nose is expressive full of rich and complex flavours. The ripeness of the fruit gives sweetness in the middle and the fermentation in oak has broadened the flavours. Towards the back greengage is to the fore backed by banana and buttery brioche. Rosé Wines Semeli Rosé Corinth Agiorgitiko (St George) Master of Wine: Derek Smedley 8

9 GREECE August 05, 2012 It has a lovely cherry red colour and cherry is very much one of the dominant flavours. Behind the cherry freshness is some fleshier strawberry with towards the back a touch of black pepper that spices up the finish. Oreinos Helios Red 2007 (Mountain Sun Red) Peloponnese Agiorgitiko (St George) The fruit is lovely and ripe giving richness to the nose and flesh on the palate. Black plum intermingles with red cherry, the velvety tannins enrich the mid palate and towards the back raspberry and wild strawberry add a vibrancy that lifts and brightens the finish. Château Semeli Red Attica Cabernet Sauvignon 90% Merlot 10% Although the Merlot percentage is small the black plum gives flesh on the nose and richness on the palate. Cassis is very much there the fruit enriched by dark chocolate and coffee and spiced up by cigar box and cedar. It has a lovely balance with a long, elegant finish. Semeli Nemea Réserve Nemea Agiorgitiko (St George) About half of the fruit comes from the Semeli Nemea estate at Koutsi whilst the rest comes from the higher slopes of Nemea. The nose is intense, complex with the black fruits excitingly spiced. The same mix of flavours is there on the palate first black cherry, sloe then some lighter bilberry. The tannins are ripe giving suppleness on the palate and the fruit on the finish is long and persistent. Domaine Helios Grande Réserve Red Nemea Agiorgitiko (St George) The colour is showing a touch of maturity and this hint of age adds to the complexity on both nose and palate. Bramble and black cherry are backed by herbs and spice the richness lightened a little by fresher bilberry. The velvety tannins add to the lushness but this rich power is well balanced by the underlying acidity. The finish has an exciting mix of cedar wood, toast and cinnamon. 9 Master of Wine: Derek Smedley Master of Wine: Derek Smedley

10 August 05, 2012 GREECE Lyrarkis Crete White Wines Dafni Dafni 100% Delicate white flowered the nose has floral charm and the start of the palate seems quite light. There is more depth in the middle some tropical fruits a hint of white peach with the citrus mix at the back lifting the flavours and giving a lighter feel to the finish. Kotsifali Kotsifali 100% Rich on the nose the palate has power and depth fruit richness with black fruits tending to dominate. There is an underlying freshness a touch of spice but the back palate and finish have depth richness brooding black fruits. Okto Red Kotsifali Mandilaria Syrah Tasted in the Carlton Club September 2016 The nose has depth rich fruit with cassis and black cherry ripe prunes in the middle the tannins ripe. There is a fresher feel towards the back bramble peppery with sweeter black fruits giving richness on the finish. Mediterra Winery Crete White Wines Xerolithia Vilana 100% Under the white flowered fragrances on the nose there is sweet fruit. The palate has a mix of sweetness and freshness lime and lemon backed by slightly richer grapefruit and tropical fruits. Citrus fresh at the back the finish has a touch of flint. Assyrtiko Assyrtiko 100% Master of Wine: Derek Smedley 10

11 GREECE August 05, 2012 Lime and mineral the nose is lean and fresh the palate starts light with flinty citrus freshness. The mid palate has honeyed sweetness hints of tropical fruits a touch of apricot the richness underpinned by flinty freshness the finish mineral and slightly salty. Mirambelo Kotsifali 80% Mandilaria 20% The nose has freshness a bramble and bilberry mix the palate starts quite light and fresh fruited. Richer in the middle still very black fruit dominated the richer black cherry backed by a lighter fresher fragrant black fruited mix. Mavrodaphe 92 Mavrodaphe 80% Korinthiaki 20% Sweet on the nose the palate has a fleshy richness supple and ripe fruited in the middle. Dark chocolate adds to the richness the sweetness though balanced by an underlying freshness. The finish has depth with the sweetness and fleshy richness of ripe fruit. Mercouri Estate Korakochori Ichthis Peninsula Peloponnese White Wines Folio Red Roditis 90% Viognier 10% The nose has white flowered fragrance the palate more depth a lovely tangerine richness. Under richer fruit citrus and apple freshness balances and lifts the flavours on the back palate and finish. Kallisto Assyrtico 80% Robola 20% Fresh fruits lime and lemon on the nose but the palate is richer with more breadth and depth. Ripe pears give way to citric freshness the finish bright and refreshing. Coma Berenices Master of Wine: Derek Smedley Master of Wine: Derek Smedley

12 August 05, 2012 GREECE Viognier 100% Peaches and apricots the nose is rich the palate starts with depth of fruit a touch of brioche hints of vanilla and although lighter with fresh fruit at the back the finish is rich quite fat and fleshy. Rosé Wines Lampadias Rosé Avgoustiatis 50% Agiorgitiko 50% Rose petal red cherries there is a lot happening on the nose. There is mid freshness quite light firmer at the back and finishes a touch short. Domaine Mercouri Refosco Mercouri 85% Mavrodaphne 15% The nose has a mix of red fruits and the start of the palate has wild strawberries, red cherries and redcurrants. It fills out in the middle more coffee and dark chocolate with a hint of cinnamon on the finish. Domaine Mercouri Refosco Mercouri 60% Refosco dal Penducolo 20% Mavrodaphne 20% Bright and red fruited on the nose rich on the palate with lots of chocolate in the middle. At the back there is a strong red fruited influence with cinnamon and a touch of bitter red cherry on the finish. Refosco Mercouri Refosco Mercouri 100% Intense penetrating red fruits a complex mix on the palate bitter red cherry and sweeter richer red plum. The back palate is racy fresh at the start with richer flavours coming through towards the back serious with a lovely depth of flavour on the finish. Antares Avgoustiatis 60% Mourvèdre 40% The nose is perfumed a bouquet of spring violets the palate has depth with lots of bramble and black cherry. Towards the back it feels fresher with a strong red fruit influence the freshness at the back highlighting the herbal white pepper on the finish. Master of Wine: Derek Smedley 12

13 GREECE August 05, 2012 Cava Refosco dal Penducolo 20% Mavrodaphne 20% Smokey on the nose floral with lots of violets the start of the palate has the same fragrant charm. Red fruits dominate the mid palate red cherry and red plum with under the fresher red fruits chocolate richness. The back palate has some leathery spice the finish has great length. Sweet Chortais Mavrodaphne 55% Korinthiaki 45% Rich and fleshy both nose and palate has ripe black fruits and dark chocolate. The fleshy sweetness the caramel richness is balanced by fresher fruit at the back more bramble and black cherry in character but the finish is lush sumptuous ripe and rounded the mouth filled with rich flavours. Monemvasia Winery Monemvasia Peloponnese The poorest parts of are situated in the southern part of the Peloponnese. This least explored area is the home of some exciting and lesser known grape varieties as well as being steeped in ancient history. The winery was founded by Giorgios Tsimpidis in 1997 and has made amazing progess bringing these grapes into focus. The grapes have exciting flavours and go so well with the local dishes. The winery which has expanded its vineyards to some 20 hectares is working hard to bring back Malvasia (Monemvasia) once the great flavour of wines from countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, Madeira (Malmsey), California and Croatia. June 2009 White Wines Monemvasios Regional Dry White Wine of Monemvasia Asyrtiko 50% Kidonitsa 25% Monemvasia 25 % Monemvasios white is made from the local varieties Asyrtiko, Kidonitsa, along with Monemvasia. Kidonitsa, the Asyrtiko and Monemvasia are forgotten varieties that were to be found in the legendary wine Malvasia. Asyrtiko in the biggest percentage, giving lots of the citric freshness whilst Monemvasia and Kidonisa give the aromatic notes. 13 Master of Wine: Derek Smedley Master of Wine: Derek Smedley

14 August 05, 2012 GREECE The nose is steely, flinty and very floral with the freshness of lemon and lime. The palate has the same crispness but there is a richer feel on the mid palate more of an apricot character. The mix of fruit flavours gives an exciting complexity whilst the citrus fresh mineral finish brightens the back palate. Laloudi Regional Dry White Wine of Peloponnese Moscofilero 80% Roditis 20% Laloudi (meaning flower) is a blend of Moscofilero and Roditis, a partnership that features the intense fruit of Roditis with the more aromatic Moschofilero from Tripoli. The freshness of the mix gives an attractive vibrancy and brings out the lovely floral rose petal fragrances. This is a marriage that combines power with refreshing raciness. The nose has an attractive rose petal quality backed by the vibrant freshness from the lime and mineral. The palate is richer with more of a fleshy grapefruit character backed by a touch of pear. Towards the finish an aromatic character comes to the fore backed by almond nuttiness. Crisp citrus lingers on the long finish. Maleatis Regional Dry White Wine of Monemvasia Monemvasia 70% Roditis 10% Asprovaria 20% Monemvasia and Asprovaria are very old varieties that took part in the legendary wine Malvasia. These three local grape varieties are vinified together to produce a wine of floral fruity aromas as well as richness of flavour on the palate. The nose has an attractive floral quality with the freshness of lemon and lime peel. There is a greater depth of fruit on the palate with a mix of pear and apricot backed by greengage. The mix of fruits lingers long on the back palate. Monemvasia Regional Dry White Wine of Monemvasia Monemvasia 100% Monemvasia is very old variety that took part in the legendary wine Malvasia. The grapes are from vineyards that are located on the slopes of Velies. Monemvasia is a lovely aromatic variety. The nose is packed full of fruits, an attractive rich mix. At first apricot seems to dominate but behind this is pear refreshed by lime and lemon. The mid palate had the depth of greengage but towards the back the freshness of the citrus and mineral take over leaving a lovely long fresh end. Kidonitasia Regional Dry White Wine of Laconia Master of Wine: Derek Smedley 14

15 GREECE August 05, 2012 Κidonitsa 100% Kidonitsa is a rare, old local variety that took part in the legendary wine Malvasia. Its main characteristic is the unique aromatic character of its fruit as well as its excellent acidity. Tropical fruits, citrus and apple all combine to give a complex mix of flavours. There is richness on the palate, powerful flavours lifted by the underlying citric acidity that lifts and lengthens the fruit. Although seemingly quite full and rich the freshness gives the wine real elegance. Kidonitsa Kidonitsa 100% Tasted at The Jugged Hare Chiswell Street London October 2014 The nose is fresh with lots of citrus the palate crisp at the start slightly richer in the middle grapefruit fleshiness. Lime and lemon are there on the back palate the finish long with mineral raciness. Assyrtiko Regional White Dry Wine of Monemvasia Asyrtiko(100%) Asyrtiko is one of the finest varieties. The grapes are from vineyards that are located on the slopes of Velies. Asyrtiko is wonderfully refreshing with an intense fruity aromatic character and underlying acidity. The nose has a lovely mix of flavours, intense and herbal with an exciting grassy aromatic character. The freshness on the palate comes from the mix of grapefruit and lime all of this backed by crisp apple. The back palate is full of interest, the grassy crispness well balanced by fleshier grapefruit. Asproudi Asproudi 100% Tasted at The Jugged Hare Chiswell Street London October 2014 Lemon flowers the nose is fragrant floral with citric freshness. The mid palate has more depth a touch of pear some apricot but at the back it is fresher a lime and lemon mix with hints of almonds on the finish. Metropolis Asyrtiko 30% Kidonitsa 30% Monemvasia 30% Asproudi 10% Tasted at The Jugged Hare Chiswell Street London October 2014 The nose is aromatic with a mix of flavours citrus freshness with apricot and tropical fruit sweetness. The palate is the same fresh at first richer in the middle good balance of flavours. The finish is slightly lighter and fresher. 15 Master of Wine: Derek Smedley Master of Wine: Derek Smedley

16 August 05, 2012 GREECE Rosé Wines Anthosmias Regional Medium Sweet Rosé wine of Laconia Agiorgitiko 100% The Agiorgitiko grape is given a 24 hour period of skin contact and the fermentation is stopped leaving about 31 gm/l of residual sugar. It has a sweetness that helps to bring out the aromatic flavours that are so typical of the grape. The nose is very wild strawberry in character, the sweetness giving some weight and richness. Under the flesh there is freshness redcurrant and raspberry that lift the flavours and ensures length. The finish is like the nose full of fruit strawberry lushness. Anthosmias Rosé Agiorgitiko 10% Kidonitsa 70% Roditis 20% Sweet on the nose the palate has strawberry fleshiness rich flavours on the mid palate. The sweet fruit at the back is balanced to some extent by redcurrant freshness but it finishes full and sweet. Fileri Regional Dry Rosé Wine of Peloponnese Fileri 90% Agiorgitiko 10% Bleeding off the juice of Fileri and Agiorgitiko produces a light fresh rosé with attractive fragrances. Fileri is an aromatic variety, a clone of the variety Moschofilero. The scent of flowers of Fileri and the fruity depth of Agiorgitiko give a balance of lightness, freshness yet attractive red fruit flavours. The red fruited mix of raspberry and red cherry is overlaid by rose petals fragrances. It is light, fresh dry but has a charming fruitiness and a lovely length of flavour. It is a wine built for sea food. Fileri Rosé Fileri 90% Agiorgitiko 10% Redcurrants and raspberries the nose is fresh quite floral and the start of the palate fresh with a red fruited mix. Sweet fruits give more depth and richness in the middle but the back palate is lighter and fresher. Monemvasios Regional Dry Red Wine of Monemvasia Master of Wine: Derek Smedley 16

17 GREECE August 05, 2012 Agiorgitiko 90 % / Mavroudi 10 % Both the Agiorgitiko and Mavroudi are cultivated in the vineyards on the slopes of Velies. Agiorgitiko gives high alcohol content, good acidity, rich colour and ripe tannins whilst the Mavroudi enhances the fruit, a pair of grapes that complement each other. The nose is packed with rich fruit enlivened by fresher red fruits, red cherry, raspberry and red currant. The sweetness of the tannins enriches the mid palate all very strawberry lush. Towards the back the nuttiness of the oak shows backed by vanilla and coffee that spices up the finish. Monemvasia Red Agiorgitiko 90% Mavroudi 10% Tasted at The Jugged Hare Chiswell Street London October 2014 Rich on the nose black fruited the start of the palate is depth with dark chocolate under the black fruits. The richness the sweetness is balanced by the tannins well handled but firm. Monemvasia 300 Red Agiorgitiko 70% Mavraki 30% The nose appears tight but at the back there is black fruited richness with some fresher red fruits. The mid palate has depth brooding power with black cherry and sloe. Fleshy at the back the finish has an opulent richness. Laloudi Regional Dry Red Wine of Peloponnese (From organically grown grapes) Agiorgitiko 100% Laloudi red is made from organically grown Agiorgitiko from the vineyards on the slopes of Velies. Powerful flavours run deep, the fruit depth backed by ripe tannins ensures a fleshy richness. Some time in oak. The red fruits give freshness whilst the underlying black fruits enrich adding an attractive weight and depth of flavour. Butterscotch and coffee are there, the fruit has the smokiness of the oak and as the tannins are soft there is a mid fleshiness that promises a luxurious finish. Maleatis Regional Dry Red Wine of Monemvasia Agiorgitiko 50 % Mavraki 50 % Maleatis red wine is a blend of Agiorgitiko and Mavroudi. The grapes are from vineyards that are located on the slopes of Velies. The yield is lower than the vineyards on the plain of Velies, therefore produces a wine that is rich in body, with good acidity and great aromas. It does spend some time in new oak. 17 Master of Wine: Derek Smedley Master of Wine: Derek Smedley

18 August 05, 2012 GREECE The nose is lovely and fresh with very much a red fruited influence. Raspberry is there backed by richer fleshier strawberry giving more depth at the back of the nose and more weight on the palate. Hints of vanilla from the new oak add a touch of spice and some complexity. Sweet White Wines Monemvasia Malvasia Monemvasia Asyrtiko Kydonitsa Asproudi Tasted at The Jugged Hare Chiswell Street London October 2014 Intense rich the nose is packed with exotic spices the palate rich and honeyed with ripe fleshy apricots. Under the richness the lush ripe fruit tangerine refreshes and balances bringing out the eastern spices. The finish though is rich honeyed dates and dried fruits. Derek Smedley MW Master of Wine: Derek Smedley 18