Xinomavro
Xinomavro does not need much decoration to make a point. For this 2024 release, Akriotou works with 100% Xinomavro from the viticultural zone of Naoussa, building the wine around fruit, structure and time rather than trying to soften the variety into something it is not.
The wine shows a medium ruby colour, with blackberry, blueberry and plum at the centre of the aromatic profile. A note of sundried tomato brings a more savoury side into the picture. On the palate, the fruit stays forward, while the tannins are described as velvety rather than aggressive, giving the wine an elegant, composed shape.
Winemaking starts with pre-fermentation cryo-extraction, followed by a long fermentation at controlled temperature. The wine then remains in stainless steel for 24 months with periodic micro-oxygenation. The result is a serious but approachable expression of Xinomavro, with enough structure for lamb, duck or slow-cooked veal, and enough restraint to let the variety stay recognisable.
| Vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Type | Red Wine |
| Unit Size | 75cl |
| Country | Greece |
| Region | Naoussa |
| Primary Appellation | PDO Macedonia |
| Varieties | Xinomavro 100% |
| Fermentation | Pre-fermentation cryo-extraction followed by long fermentation at controlled temperature |
| Aging | 24 months in stainless steel tanks with periodic micro-oxygenation |
| Tags | Xinomavro, Naoussa, Native Variety, Stainless Steel, Micro-Oxygenation |
| Alcohol | 13.5% |
| Cork / Screw Cap | Screw Cap |
The producer
Greek varieties come with baggage. Some are famous. Some are misunderstood. Others barely register outside the places where they grow. Vasiliki Akriotou approaches them without much interest in those old hierarchies.
Founded in 2015 after decades of work as an oenologist, Akriotou Microwinery is built around small-scale vinification and the idea that each grape deserves the right place and the right treatment. Savatiano is central to that story, particularly the old vines around Mount Kithairon, but it is not the whole story. Assyrtiko, Malagouzia, Aidani and rarer Greek varieties all form part of a wider exploration of what contemporary Greek wine can be when reputation stops dictating the result … Read more
