Assyrtiko

If you don't know this grape and/or this producer, you should.

Although summer has passed for this year, my wine of the summer was Assyrtiko from Santorini.  There are many different producers and I didn't have a bad one.  Very pale silvery gold in color.  Light bodied.  A slightly oily texture.  This has a bit of lemon/lime citrus but its really more about the smoke and minerality.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This has some depth to it.  I have no idea if these can age or not, but the energy and brightness are not likely to last, so I would drink in the next year or two. This will go well with sea food and salads and even lighter fowl dishes.  

Assyrtiko is quickly becoming one of my favorite white grapes.  Light golden in color.  The nose is mostly about minerals and salinity but there are some pears as well.  The pears are a bit stronger on the palate, but the underlying minerality and saline finish are still present.  This is light bodied but very energetic.  Moderate acidity.  Medium finish.  Of course, this is made for seafood or lighter Mediterranean cuisine, but it drinks nice on its own.  I really have no idea if this will age but I would think it is better in its first couple of years.   

Greek whites and Assyrtiko specifically are fate becoming some of my favorite summer white wines.  At $17, this is fairly priced and drinking well right now.  Light silvery gold in color.  The nose is creamy vanilla with some lemons.  Also plenty of smokiness.  It is a big nose and while I presume this saw no oak, it sure has some of those characteristics.  From volcanic soil?  Stems?  More to learn.  On the palate, this has nice lemon notes with some charred lemon peel.  Lots of energy.  Good acidity.  More about the minerality on the palate though.  Drink now to enjoy that energy.  It wil

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

100% Assyrtiko grapes.  Light golden in color.  The nose has slight lemons with a bit or herbals notes and minerals.  On the palate, these are also present along with some pears.  There is a lot of depth here and it seems like it might develop with some air.  Enough but not a lot of acidity.  Lemony finish.  This should work great with sea food or lighter fare.  $28 per bottle retail, it is worth trying one to see where it goes.  It seems young now and like a couple of years would have some upside.