▴ Alpha Estate Xinomavro
Alpha Estate Xinomavro Reserve Vielles Vignes Single Block “Barba Yannis”
One of the wines which captivated me when I visited Alpha Estate in northwest Greece in the Amyndeon, Florina region was the Alpha Estate Xinomavro Reserve Vielles Vignes Single Block “Barba Yannis.” This 3.71ha block was planted in 1919; ungrafted, pre-phylloxera vines are trained in traditional Gobelets. Angelos and Makis bought the vineyard in 1999 and the wine is named “Barba Yannis” (translation: Sir John, after the vineyard’s former owner). The 2015 vintage has controlled power, revving away like a Ferrari on the starting line. A beautiful array or red cherries and greengages caress the palate, with a bite of stone fruit, deep, and complex, with all the attributes to age beautifully. The grapes were destemmed, lightly crushed and cold-soaked with skin contact. Fermentation took place using an indigenous yeast strain which has been isolated from this specific block. Maturation took place in Allier-Bertrange French oak casks for 24 months, with a minimum of a further 12 months ageing in the bottle. The wine was bottled without fining or filtration. Great Xinomavro, which this is, has all the perfume of great Pinot Noir and the complexity of Barolo and is astonishingly good value for a fine wine. Price around £20 a bottle Excel Wines, Hic Wine Merchants.
Dec 2020, SK