There’s a wine that actually represents the superior, collector-worthy reds coming out of Greece – Xinomavro.
Tasting Xinomavro packs an precise punch – certainly one of many causes it’s often compared with the far costlier Barolo and Nebbiolo usually. Nevertheless what makes it distinctive?
All through this week’s tasting drawback, we’re going to go looking out out what Xinomavro has to produce previous merely being a value mannequin of one in every of Italy’s most well-known appellations.
What is the Tasting Downside? The issue is a technique to reinforce your wine palate each week with 34 wines from 12 nations — The Wine Tasting Downside.
Do you have to’re looking for Xinomavro, your best guess is to start in Naoussa, one in every of Greece’s most beloved wine areas, and the place this wine utterly thrives.
With snowy winters and dry summers, Xinomavro grapes have to work further arduous to develop. Fortunately, vine stress is exactly the sort of issue that makes for good fruit.
Combine that with the reality that Xinomavro is a extremely productive grape vine, and likewise you’ve obtained all the suitable components for a elaborate and memorable wine.
As a strategy to get in all probability probably the most out of our first Xinomavro experience, we went with a wine from the Naoussa space of Greece.
Whereas Naoussa is principally shorthand for “good Xinomavro,” it’s very important to note that the world is geographically diversified enough that individual individual wineries and crus produce wines that are distinctive to their terroir. So it’ll be plenty of gratifying to see what influence this one produces.
Plus, this wine is a 2013 basic! It’s been prepared 8 years, which is thrilling, considering this wine’s recognition for getting older properly.
2013 Kir Yianni Ramnista Xinomavro
Look: Medium ruby.
Aromas: Stewed cherries, espresso, plum, licorice, cedar, baking spice, and a contact of latest leather-based.
On The Palate: Wow! An unlimited one-two punch of tannins and acidity. Tobacco, espresso, raspberries, and some earlier leather-based on the tip.
Meals Pairing: It’s large and stewed, so one factor about pairing it with pot roast merely is smart. Most likely Salisbury Steak with mushroom sauce, and (in truth) a lamb gyro.
What We Realized About Greek Xinomavro
Xinomavro truly interprets to “acid black” and likewise you solely need a single glass of the stuff to go looking out out the place that determine comes from.
Xinomavro is a sort of wines that boasts every extreme acidity and heavy tannins. It does not fiddle.
In fact, even after 8 years of getting older and an hour of decanting, it nonetheless might need used some time to unwind. And with tannins and acidity being two of an necessary elements in getting older a wine, it’s no marvel that Xinomavro is known for its potential to age.
These elements are the reason that Xinomavro is usually compared with Nebbiolo, or further significantly, Barolo.
And whereas Xinomavro moreover reveals the fruit and floral traits that Barolo is known for, our experience confirmed that it was a bit spicier and dustier in its flavors: like Rioja and Barolo had a baby.
This distinctive top quality is what locations Naoussa on the wine map: truly, Xinomavro is actually current in anyplace aside from Greece!
Its versatility is intriguing as properly, this grape is getting used to make rosé in every nonetheless and glowing vogue. We undoubtedly must see what these are all about.
Remaining Impressions
Too constantly, when many individuals contemplate Greek wine, we’re obsessed with lighter whites with some salinity – the sort of bottles which are good for sitting exterior a restaurant in Santorini with a plateful of clams.
And there’s utterly nothing mistaken with that.
Nevertheless Xinomavro is the sort of powerhouse of a wine that reminds you that the potential for complexity and boldness is completely a part of the Greek winemaking customized.
What Xinomavro did you associate with? How did it look at to completely different daring reds you’ve had? Inform us throughout the suggestions!