+- WineBoard (https://www.wines.com/wineboard)
+-- Forum: TASTING NOTES & WINE SPECIFIC FORUMS (https://www.wines.com/wineboard/forum-200.html)
+--- Forum: Wines Without a Category (https://www.wines.com/wineboard/forum-37.html)
+--- Thread: Greek Wineries (three of them) (/thread-14750.html)
- TheEngineer - 05-26-2007
With all the time that we had on Santorini, I could not resist going out to a few of the island’s wineries. While there were quite a few, I settled on three to visit slowly as was characteristic of the rest of the itinerary. I was kinda looking forward to this because how often do you get a chance to go see a brand new wine area, one with a very unique vine management approach. The greeks are famous for wrapping their vines into shapes of baskets and keeping them low to the ground versus the more traditional trellising system.
The first one I visited as Sigalas which is located just outside of Oia where we were staying. It was a steep decent into the lowlands from the cliffs and the driving was tricky. I was looking forward to seeing the vines and the fruits inside them which protect the fruits from sand storms. I was shocked to see that at Sigalas, they had a few planted areas outside of their main gates on trellis systems. The person in the winery told us that this was experimental only and that the rest of the winery was more traditional. I went out into the vineyard and did find the traditional system but the vines were growing at a large rate and made the vines look almost like bushes. Still it was interesting to see.
I tried the following wines
2006 Santorini AOC/OPAP
Pretty pale gold color. Nose was like a unoaked chardonnay, but some citrus notes but not overtly strong. Very dry, crisp, and round mouth feel (13% alcohol for this guy). Good density of flavours and medium finish but it was the acidity that made this appealing. I would have this wine as a daily quaffer. (around $8 on the island)
2005 Oia Barrel AOC Bit darker in colour as this one has seen oak. On the nose, very different, with honey, still good fruitiness but I can’t pull out the fruit and definitely not overtly oaked, just a hint of vanilla. I agreed with the presenter that this tasted a bit like a dry Riesling in mouthfeel especially.
2003 Santorini AOC
This wine is starting to tire, the wine is flatter, the acidity is toned way down, still a bit of smokiness and nice minerality that is a bit more evident. Needs drinking quick…
There was another white but I lost my notes on it.
2005 Niabelo Red: umm…tannic, acidic, lean, discombobulated….
2004 Niabelo Red: umm…tannic, acidic, lean, discombobulated….no improvement with age.
2005 Mezzo: Drinks a bit like a late harvest Riesling, nice, crisp and still all the inherent flavours of the OPAP, but only more dense. Pretty.
2003 Vinsanto: This was the best wine I had on the island. Nose of preserved prunes (“Wah Muiâ€), honey, molasses, musty, etc,….complex enough to stand up to a good LBV port. Very thick, very dark in colour, solid entry and mouth feel and a super long length. However, the assyrtiko acidity kept things very fresh still. I did not buy any and I regret that.
The next winery was Santos Winery. What a beautiful site. It is at the very top of the cliff with about a 300m/1000ft down to a Mediterranean bay, located just South of Fira. They have probably the largest winery facility on the island and would not look out of place on I-29 in Napa…only it is bigger than most of those. Impressive.
2006 Santorini Assyrtico. Light hay in colour, very dry with okay aromatic nose, very light, High on the acidity but little fruit.
2006 Santorini Nykteri. A blend of Assyrtiko, Athiri and Aidani. Brought the wine a bit more fruitiness but the body suffered as it was no longer a crisp. A bit more fruit on the nose but only a bit.
2006 Vedema Rose.
This is a combination of Assyrtiko and Mandilaria, slightly sweeter on palate, good acidity but very little to go back for.
2005 Vedema Red
From the red Mandilaria variety, Medium garnet in colour, Nose was muted, and on palate, thin, tannic, and a hint of strawberries. No exactly crowd pleaser.
2005 Mezzo(?):
A bit like a simple late harvest Riesling, only lacking in the nose and despite acidity, it is a bit flat.
2003 Vinsanto
Blended from Assyrtico and Aidani with several months in oak barrels. Again, very dark and nose of Chinese preserved prunes (“Wah Muiâ€) spices, raisins and molasses. Good mouthfeel but lacked the presense and structure of the Sigalas version
The wines were okay, sound but not very much beyond that. But the winery is definitely worth a visit if for nothing but the view. Their tomato paste though was very very nice.
The last winery was Boutari Winery located in the south part of the island. They are the largest winery but the customer center was nothing like Santos. Perhaps they put the money into the wine….. We only tried three wines.
2006 Assyrtiko
Pale gold hay in colour, citric nose, high acidity and very crisp, dry, though a decently rounded mouthfeel.
2006 Santorini Assyrtiko
Pale gold hay in colour, muted but more elegant nose with some citric elements, Nice vervy acidity to give a good structure, still round mouthfeel and a lingering lemon peel scent. Medium- body, Decent drinker.
2003 Vinsanto
Dark amber in colour, Typical nose now of Chinese “Wah Mui†but not as raw or powerful, more elegant, brown sugar, mollasses. Very nice mouthfeel and good balance with the acidity. Long long finish
All in all, confirmed a few things about Greek wines that we learn and there were a few surprises too. Most off all, the people there take it seriously. They are into their wines and invest heavily into the production of it. They are proud of their products and while I’m not sure they are ready to take on the world just yet, they do have reason to be proud of their efforts.
- winoweenie - 05-26-2007
Nice reporting there Eng. So far the only wine from Greece I've had that was memorable was had after 6 OOMPAHS and the throwing of the glasses into the fireplace. Paint me as dumb. WW
- dananne - 05-26-2007
Thanks for the notes -- we get to live vicarously!
- wondersofwine - 05-29-2007
Santorini is indeed a beautiful place. Thanks for exploring the wineries and wines.
- TheEngineer - 05-29-2007
WW, you are not wrong with that...most of the reds that I had were tough to drink, but their whites were pretty good. In the US though their price points would make them a difficult sell though so perhaps only some of the very cheapest gets through.
Dananne and WOW, Santorini is indeed very picturesque. On such a small island is a significant diversity of views. Certainly the towns on the cliffs were gorgeous but they also have a black sand beach, a red sand beach and a white sand beach, valley floors, mountains, etc,.. I loved it and would have no problems going back at any time. I do regret however, not going to Crete and seeing the Mycenean ruins as the ruines on Santorini were closed to the public when I was there.
- Kcwhippet - 09-05-2007
Hey Eng. Next time you're in the shop, ask to see the September issue of the Beverage Journal. There's an article on Santorini wines that may interest you.
- TheEngineer - 09-06-2007
Will do KC! Thanks for that! I miss being in Santorini........really miss it.