2014 Helexo Apanta Xinomavro, Greece, Macedonia, Wine Review

100% Xinomavro. Light ruby in color. This looks like it will be a lighter wine, then boom. The nose has bitter sour cherries (in a good way) with some black olive and spice. On the palate, this is light bodied but packs a lot of flavor on that thin frame. Ripe cherries, firm tannins. In the style of Nebbiolo but not. Nice finish. There is a nice backbone of acidity if not pronounced. It should work well with a wide variety of foods, especially fowl. 13.5% Alc. Retails for $20 which is a great deal for a very good wine and also something a bit different.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2014

Greek Wine Travel: An Overview

Strolling through the narrow curving and criss-crossing streets, past ancient crumbling buildings, chapels and fountains, the moment you emerge from the labyrinth-like old city and set your eyes on the sea shore with the sunset’s rays dancing in the lapping waves, you realize this city is made for lovers.

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Road Shows: Greece 2007

While no match for the fickle flip of fashion rags like Vogue, nevertheless, wine publications have a tendency to declare a new “wine darling” seemingly every year. From Gruner Veltliner to the rebirth of Riesling, or the rise of Spain to the fall of Australia, wine fashions ebb and flow with the tide of sommelier fancy and corporate marketing. For the last few months, I’ve been noting that more and more publications have been talking about Greece. So, when the “All About Greek Wines” tour (sponsored by thirty-one producers to promote Greek wines in North America) came to San Francisco in April, the time seemed ripe to check out what the latest media starlet had to offer.

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2017 Kanakaris Notos White, Greece, Peloponnesos, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

This is an interesting wine. 100% Roditis. It retails for $9 which makes it a nice value especially when looking for something different. Pale silvery green in color. The nose has some peaches and limes which is interesting with nice minerality. On the palate, more about minerality, slight saline and some citrus. Easy drinking but enough acidity to work with food. The salinity also makes it great for shell fish. This wine is fresh and should probably be drunk in the first couple of years.

2012 Barafakas Winery Agiorgitiko Apocalypsis, Greece, Nemea, Wine Review

Vintage:

2012

Score:

Grade:

A-

What an interesting wine. Made from the Agiorgitiko grape. This retail for $24 which is a fair price. It is unclear how it will age but it seems as though it should be drunk in the next few years. Deep ruby in color. The nose is lovely with sour cherries. A bit of anise on the back of the nose. On the palate, the sour cherries come thru along with some forest floor and some bell pepper. A bit like a cooler climate Cabernet Franc combined with Barbera. Firm tannins and good acidity. This really begs for some food. A fun wine.

2015 Santo Wines Assyrtiko Grande Reserve Santorini, Greece, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$40.00USD

Greece is making some really good wines these days, both red and white. It seems the whites are finding more shelf space in wine stores though. This white, made from the Assyrtiko grape is very good. It is a higher end version and like many lovely whites, I question the need for a "serious" wine instead of just having a more "simple" wine. This wine is fermented in oak barrels for 12 months and then left to age another 12 months in bottle before release. The result is that this wine has more body and complexity but it loses the crispness and freshness that makes Santorini wines so enjo

2014 Helexo Apanta Xinomavro, Greece, Macedonia, Wine Review

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Related Articles

Greek Wine Travel: An Overview

Road Shows: Greece 2007

2017 Kanakaris Notos White, Greece, Peloponnesos, Wine Review

2012 Barafakas Winery Agiorgitiko Apocalypsis, Greece, Nemea, Wine Review

2015 Santo Wines Assyrtiko Grande Reserve Santorini, Greece, Wine Review