Wine Wise/The Vienna Wine Company
Tasting of Twenty Greek Wines
Imported by Sotiris Bafitis
Bacar Restaurant, San Francisco
Monday, November 7, 2005 - Joanne
As a group, these wines were quite good, and show that the Greek wine industry is coming along. I found the wines to be quite food friendly and not one was insipid. The Atlantis wines from Argyros stood out, as well as the Voyatzis – my favorite of the day. Joanne’s favorite was the Vin Santo from Argyros – easily the most expensive wine of the day, too. Kudos to the Importer, Sotiris Bafitis Selections, for bringing in a very nice selection of wines. I hope we see some of these in restaurants that serve something other than just Greek food. - Jack
| 2003 | Argyros | Atlantis White | Assyrtiko Blend/Santorini | Plastic/chemically nose. Hard mineral center. Water. | 3 |
| 2003 | Argyros | Canava White | Assyrtiko Blend/Santorini | Muscat-like nose. Fermented. Yeasty grapes finish. Have again with food! Hard finish. | 2-3 |
| 2003 | Argyros | Atlantis Red | Mandilaria & Mavratragano/Santorini | Intense earth on nose. Soft earthy center. With herbs. Light. Good! Jo: likes! | 3+ |
| 1994 | Argyros | Vinsanto | Santorini | Intense raisiny sweetness on nose. Almost perfume. Really great finish. Great with nuts. Raisins on finish. | 2-3 |
| 2003 | Biblia Chora | Red | Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon/Kavala, Macedonia | 60% Cab/40% Merlot. Not balanced. Lots of wood in center. | 1 |
| 2002 | Biblia Chora | Areti Red | Agioirghitiko/Kavala, Macedonia | Bright fruity nose and bright light acidic center. Too light for Jack. | 0? |
| 2004 | Gerovassiliou | Malagousia | Epanomi/Thessaloniki | Malolactic over-ripe elements. Gold raspberry finish. Most elegant of the white. Jo: No! | 2? |
| 2002 | Gerovassiliou | Syrah/Epanomi, Thessaloniki | Not syrah-like. Very concentrated. Dark deep. Hard to judge. Bitter finish. Still bitter with food. | 3? |
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| 2002 | Karyda | Naoussa | Xinomavro/Naoussa, Macedonia | 2002 was a poor vintage – this is a tiny producer with about 8-10,000 bottles annual production. Great fruit/perfume on nose. Powder candy/pixi sticks on center. Incense-like finish. Try a different year. | 1-2 |
| 2004 | Kir-Yianni | Samaropetra | Roditis Blend/ Amyndeo N. Macedonia | Drinkable. More watery center. More malo elements but they are better integrated. Slightly bitter finish. | 1-2 |
| 2004 | Kir-Yianni | Anakies Rosé | Xinomavro/Amyndeo, N. Macedonia | Strawberries. Delicious rose. Drink now. Jack: didn’t like. | 0-1 |
| 2003 | Kir-Yianni | Paranga | Xinomavro & Agioirghitiko / Amyndeo N. Macedonia | Coffee on nose. Very Bandol-ish (- Jack ) Slightly bitter finish. Jo: liked. | ? |
| 2003 | Kir-Yianni | Ramnista | Xinomavro/Naoussa, Macedonia | Oak! Tannins from wood in center. Too much oak. Very young. | 2 |
| 2003 | Kir-Yianni | Yianakohori | Xinomavro & Merlot/Naoussa, Macedonia | Wood and earth on nose. Very very tannic center. | 2-3 |
| 2003 | Kir-Yianni | Imathias | Syrah/Naoussa, Macedonia | Less than 5000 bottles. Balanced and young. Slightly tannic finish. | 2? |
| 2004 | Lafazanis | Roditis (blend) | Achia/Peleponnese | Sweet floral and fruity nose. Malolactic overripe elements. | 2+ |
| 2004 | Lafazanis | St. George | Agioirghitiko /Nemea, Achia, Peleponnese | Bright cherry nose. Bright young fruit. Bright red fruits. What Beaujolis Nouveau should be. Slightly tannic finish. | 1-3 |
| 2003 | Mercouri | Foloi | Roditis/W. Peleponnese | More balanced. Watery center. Slight bitterness on finish. | 2 |
| 2001 | Mercouri | Antares | Augoustiatis & Mourvedre/W. Peleponnese | Not much nose. Oak there but integrated. Woodsy. World class wine. Happy to have a bottle. | 2-3 |
| 2001 | Voyatzis | Red | Xinomavro blend | Bright spicy center. Meaty. Good! Maybe this is a great varietal? | 3-4 |
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