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750ml
Bottle:
$25.94
92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Naoussa, i.e., the Estate Xinomavro with just Domaine Karydas on...
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Domaine Karydas
Vintage: 2011
The year 2011 was an interesting year for many northern and central European countries, as the weather was more than unpredictable in the spring and summer. However, in most countries, the climatic conditions thankfully settled down in the late summer and fall. The result of this slightly difficult year of weather in France was a set of surprisingly small yields, but overall, these yields were of a higher quality than those harvested in certain previous years. A fantastic set of wines was also made in Italy and Spain, and the Rioja wines - when released - are set to be very good indeed. Austria also had superb year in 2011, with almost fifty percent more grapes being grown and used for their distinctive Gruner Veltliner wines than in the year before. Possibly the European country which had the finest 2011, though, was Portugal, with wineries in the Douro region claiming this year to be one of the best in decades for the production of Port wine, and the bright, young Vinho Verdes wines.
In the New World, the Pacific Northwest saw some of the best weather of 2011, and Washington State and Oregon reportedly had a highly successful year, especially for the cultivation of high quality red wine grapes. Chile and Argentina had a relatively cool year, which certainly helped retain the character of many of their key grape varietals, and should make for some exciting drinking. South Africa had especially good weather for their white wine grape varietals, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and many South African wineries are reporting 2011 as one of their best years in recent memory.
Varietal: Xinomavro
The Xinomavro grapes which are grown throughout the arid hillsides of Macedonia, and elsewhere in Greece and other parts of the world, have been celebrated for millennia for their rich flavor and unique characteristics. The name 'Xinomavro' translates as 'acid black', and when drank young, the wines made from these grapes can be a little too abrasive and astringent. However, these blue-black skinned grapes produce wines of exceptional quality when aged and matured, as their strong tannins and high acidity mellows over time to reveal a deep and complex set of flavors and aromas. Most commonly, aged Xinomavro wines hold notes of red gooseberry, black olives, cinnamon, clove and dried tomato, making them an ideal accompaniment for many Mediterranean cuisines, and as such, their popularity has grown over recent decades in many countries around the world.
Country: Greece
Thanks to thousands of years of viticulture, and a dedication to quality and experimentation, Greek wines remain in a league of their own and continue to surprise and delight wine lovers around the world. From the refined and delicious Agiorghitiko wines, with their deep ruby red color and intense fruit flavors, to the unusual and highly aromatic fortified wines made with the black Mavrodaphne grapes, Greek wine is renowned for its variety and consistent excellence. It seems the blazing Mediterranean sunshine allows wineries to make the most of the late harvests and all the intensity of flavor this brings, resulting in wines which are bursting with fruit-forward character and unusual aromas.