More notes from last weekend's Wine Expo. I have had a variety of Greek wines before, but continue to be intrigued by the variety of grapes and styles from this country, and will certainly keep exploring Greek wine even more in the coming years.
1999 Union of Vinicultural Cooperatives of Samos Muscat Anthemis
100% Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains. Full, moderately viscous, sweet, and fat, yet well balanced. Shows some characteristic Muscat floral notes that are largely being superseded at this stage by more mature aromas and flavors of caramel, honey, smoke, figs, and golden raisins. Very good/excellent.
2001 Union of Vinicultural Cooperatives of Samos Muscat Nectar
100% Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains. Fatter and sweeter than the Anthemis; still well balanced, with more of the youthful Muscat freshness and florality amid layers of honey, caramel, crème brulee, and golden raisins. Should continue to age nicely. Excellent.
2009 Creta Olympias Winery Xerolithia Peza-Iraklion
100% Vilana. Medium-bodied, well balanced, with good underlying acidity. Bone dry, very mineral, with citrus and apricot notes. Very good.
2006 Apostolos Lykos Krastikos Nemea
100% Agiorgitiko. Full-bodied, somewhat oaky, with moderate tannin and dark fruit and spice notes. Well-balanced, but a bit oakier than I would have preferred.
2009 Apostolos Lykos Agiorgitiko Kerastis Regional Wine of Peleponnese
Medium-bodied, soft, well balanced, without any overt new oak; light to moderate tannins/moderate acidity. Very Merlot-ish notes of cherries, blackberries, and spices. Good.
2009 Apostolos Lykos Malaguzia Regional Wine of Central Greece
Light in weight, bone dry, well balanced, with good underlying acidity; mineral and stone fruit notes. Good; refreshing but not overly complex.
2009 Apostolos Lykos Assyrtiko Sauvignon Panselinos Regional Wine of Central Greece
60% Sauvignon Blanc/40% Assyrtiko. Light-bodied, bone dry, well balanced, with good underlying acidity. Distinctly floral, with mineral and citrus notes. Good.
2009 Ktima Pavlidis Thema Regional White Wine of Drama
60% Sauvignon Blanc/40% Assyrtiko. Light in weight, well balanced, with good underlying acidity; mineral, with citrus notes. Good.
2009 Ktima Biblia Chora Areti Regional White Wine of Mt. Pangeo
100% Assyrtiko. Light, crisp, clean, well balanced, with citrus and mineral notes. Just a bit more weight that the Pavlidis Thema above. Good.
2004 Chateau Porto Carras Côtes de Meliton
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Limnio. Medium-bodied, dry, smooth, and well balanced; moderately tannic, with good underlying acidity. Shows notes of mixed berries, plums, chocolate, and spices. Very good.
2007 Tsantali Rapsani
A blend of Xynomavro, Krassato, and Stavroto. Moderate in weight and tannin; well balanced, with notes of dark berries, tar, leather, prunes, and spices. Very good.
2006 Tsantali Rapsani Reserve
One-third each of Xynomavro, Krassato, and Stavroto. Somewhat fuller than the 07 Rapsani above; with a bit more obvious oak. Similarly well balanced, though more tannic and structured, with dark fruit, dried berry, spice, leather, and vanilla notes. Very good.
2006 Alpha Estate Xinomavro Amyndeon
Full, supple, moderately tannic and acidic. Shows notes of dark fruits, raisins, leather, vanilla, and spices. The acidity seems slightly out of balance, though.
2009 Oenoforos (Rouvalis) Asprolithi Patras
100% Roditis. Light-bodied, bone dry,crisp, elegant, and balanced; shows primarily citrus and mineral notes. Good.
2007 Kephalonian Robola Wine Cooperative Robola of Kephalonia “San Gerassimo”
Made from the Robola grape, which may or may not be the same grape as Ribolla Gialla. Light-bodied, bone dry, delicate, very mineral, with tropical and citrus fruit notes. Good/very good.