Summer Wines (Craig & Nita's Place): Deep golden color. Drank a glass over 40 minutes. This was the second bottle of this I've had. This was quite reminiscent of the previous bottle. I'm going to have to say definitively now, that I'm not really a fan of this style of Assyrtiko. It lacks the brightness and crystalline character that makes Assyrtiko what it is, and for me, what it is meant to be. There's a lot going on here to be fair; bigger in style, round though and not showing the acidity to really carry it through, rich with yellow apple, over ripe mango, lemon, oxidative in style, lacquer (think Lopez whites) and plenty of oak. I find it interesting, and probably on a cool Fall evening more desirable. Though i certainly didn't hate it, it was the wrong call to bring this on a hot summer day. I'll stick to Sigalas's classic and reliable Assyrtiko going forward.
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Medium-dark yellow gold colour. On the nose, Santorini citrus-minerals combo, but also touch of NPR and oak. On the palate, the attack is frank, concentrated with the aromas found on the nose, with added nuts and Xeres type aromas as well as some peach mixed in with the nail polish remover. There is a good length of said aromas finishing on a bitter note. As it has some quite prominent oxidative notes, I think this is past its prime, and also, the nail polish remover aromas are quite strong. I was never as fond of this barrel version compared to the non-barrel version, and despite being savoury today, it is in its end of life.
Somewhat better on day 2 and 3 - the nail polish remover becomes more discrete and lime aromas replaces it. Bumping up to 89-90.
Yet another demonstration for me that the Sigalas wines currently are not as long lived as the Argyros equivalent, not that it necessarily matters. It was at its best young. I have one non-barrel version left of the same vintage which I will open soon.
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Deep golden color. PNP, drank 2 glasses over 2 hours. Fusil on the nose with apple, apricot, orange zest, oak, wool. The palate is round and full bodied, you can sense the oak and barrel fermentation, petrol, lacquer, candied apple, apricot, citrus, oily, wooly, baked pear. This was mindful at times of older Lopez whites and Chenin. Very interesting and fun to drink, but given the choice, I'd gladly steer to the regular unoaked version by a good margin for that crisp fresh style that really shows the grape and terroir.
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Drank from fridge to 85 degree ambient temp on a hot summer night; deep golden hue; some oak on the nose and more on the palate but pleasant not splintery; 14.5% alc but showing no heat; flavors of champagne apples and chardonnay roundness; full body, well integrated and creamy texture. Acid in check Which is not a given for this grape. excelle t for the style, which is more burgundy/California than the typical ripping acidity of steel fermented Assyrtiko. This is a successful wine and likely to continue to improve.
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Dark golden color, less fresh and crispy than and more oxidized than previous bottles. Either the wine changes dramatically in style as it matures or bottle variation... I like oxidized styles of white wine like Rioja but for this I prefer the cleaner style I would normally expect from this wine. I will certainly continue to drink this wine but perhaps start the drinking when younger...
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Golden color, citrus in the nose, good strong spicy taste, still lots of fruit, creamy mouthfeel, razor sharp acidity and good finish. Nice now and should continue to drink well a couple of years.
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Brass coloured with a golden hue. Displays honey, grapefruit and yellow fruit aromas on its rather muted nose but this wine is all about what it reveals on the palate. Rich with a creamy texture that is lifted by its penetrating acidity and the strong mineral core. Very long and generous.
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This was brought back from the winery in Greece; You can definitely smell some of the oak on the nose, although it's not overpowering; The palate still has the typical Sigalas notes of stone fruit, citrus and crushed rocks, but the oak does make the palate a little rounder and more plush
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Had the 2014 first time in 2015 where it impressed. Now two years later it still impresses and should continue to do so in the years to come. I will try next bottle in 2019. This wine has well integrated oak giving a buttery fell but balanced by a razor sharp acidity and a fresh minerality and fresh fruit. I prefer this richer style compared to the leaner / cleaner style of Hatzidakis.
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Restaurant fare from Axios in Denver, an interesting expression of assyrtiko, with obvious barrel notes on both the nose and the palate of a strong buttery nature. Peach and chalk are the primary flavors that are also quite pronounced, with fresh acidity in the background.
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Coravin'ed. Nice bright yellow colour. On the nose, we quickly perceive the aromatics notes of exposure to oak. These are then followed by the typical mineral and citrus aromas of Assyrtiko from Santorini. On the palate, the attack is frank with a good acidity and concentration, where after perceiving the aromas from the oak, the mineral and citrus aromas take the lead, leading to a good length. For having tasted several unoaked Assyrtiko from Santorini, including the non-barrel version of Sigalas' Assyrtiko (which I rate higher), I am not sure that I find the interest in exposing the wine to oak. I personally find that by doing so, we lose some of the typicity, originality and interest of Assyrtiko (which I love) which to me is to be found in the concentration, ageworthiness and aromas typical of the grape and the island it grows on. That being said, it remains a well made wine, but the addition of a more international style, I find somewhat unfortunate. Perhaps after it ages and the flavours meld, I will be proven wrong and it will turn out very well. Time will tell. Improves when exposed to air for a while.
Echantillon par Coravin. Belle robe jaune crystalline. Au nez, on retrouve dans un premier temps, un beau boisé qui s'en suit avec le côté mineral des assyrtiko de Santorin. En bouche l'attaque est franche avec ses arômes boisés et sur la longueur, on retrouve le côté mineral et citronné de l'Assyrtiko. Bonne concentration et longueur. Cependant, pour avoir goûté la version non-barriquée de plusieurs Assyrtiko de Santorin dont celui de Sigalas (qui obtiens une note plus élevée), je ne suis pas sûr de voir l'intérêt de le passer par des fûts de chêne. Pour moi, on perd la typicité du cépage et du terroir qui est, outre les autres qualités du vin, l'intérêt de ce vin. Dans tous les cas, c'est bon, c'est bien fait, mais l'ajout d'un côté un peu international au style traditionnel, je trouve un peu dommage. Peut-être avec quelques années en bouteille, le boisé va s'intégrer et je comprendrai que j'avais tord dans cette remarque initiale. Meilleur après une certaine exposition à l'air.
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Mid yellow colour. The nose was originally quite Burgundian - creamy oak and ripe stone fruit made for a lovely profile - but increasingly the distinctive minerality and citrus tones came through as the oak integrated with air, and the herbs (fennel) showed in flecks. Better after a couple of years but I think this is smart handling of the grape. ***1/2+
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Consistent with previous note. Excellent but atypical assyrtiko, reminiscent of barrel aged sauvignon blanc. Pale yellow colour. Grapefruit, fig leaf and tropical scents such as pineapple and mango. Nicely integrated oak. Medium-bodied with vibrant fruit and bright acidity. Med-long, zesty aftertaste.
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Here the oak is felt more in the mouth than in the palate. Needs some time to integrate the oak better i think. Quite a lot of stone fruit and citrus, fatness that is cut throught by the minerals. In all however I would agree that you wouldnt recognize this wine as Santorini.
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Blind I would have guessed a high end oaked sauvignon blanc, even a Pessac-Leognan white! Expressive nose of mango, citrus fruit, minerality, green scents and nicely integrated oak. Medium+ bodied with richness and perfect balance. Long and pleasently bitter, zesty aftertaste. Atypical Santorini, but so enjoyable!
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9/16/2023 - tcarter Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow! This bottle is drinking beautifully and punching way above its weight. Sad this was my last bottle...
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7/10/2022 - rocknroller wrote:
Summer Wines (Craig & Nita's Place): Deep golden color. Drank a glass over 40 minutes. This was the second bottle of this I've had. This was quite reminiscent of the previous bottle. I'm going to have to say definitively now, that I'm not really a fan of this style of Assyrtiko. It lacks the brightness and crystalline character that makes Assyrtiko what it is, and for me, what it is meant to be. There's a lot going on here to be fair; bigger in style, round though and not showing the acidity to really carry it through, rich with yellow apple, over ripe mango, lemon, oxidative in style, lacquer (think Lopez whites) and plenty of oak. I find it interesting, and probably on a cool Fall evening more desirable. Though i certainly didn't hate it, it was the wrong call to bring this on a hot summer day. I'll stick to Sigalas's classic and reliable Assyrtiko going forward.
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2/2/2022 - ChristopherB Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium-dark yellow gold colour. On the nose, Santorini citrus-minerals combo, but also touch of NPR and oak. On the palate, the attack is frank, concentrated with the aromas found on the nose, with added nuts and Xeres type aromas as well as some peach mixed in with the nail polish remover. There is a good length of said aromas finishing on a bitter note. As it has some quite prominent oxidative notes, I think this is past its prime, and also, the nail polish remover aromas are quite strong. I was never as fond of this barrel version compared to the non-barrel version, and despite being savoury today, it is in its end of life.
Somewhat better on day 2 and 3 - the nail polish remover becomes more discrete and lime aromas replaces it. Bumping up to 89-90.
Yet another demonstration for me that the Sigalas wines currently are not as long lived as the Argyros equivalent, not that it necessarily matters. It was at its best young. I have one non-barrel version left of the same vintage which I will open soon.
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3/4/2021 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
Deep golden color. PNP, drank 2 glasses over 2 hours. Fusil on the nose with apple, apricot, orange zest, oak, wool. The palate is round and full bodied, you can sense the oak and barrel fermentation, petrol, lacquer, candied apple, apricot, citrus, oily, wooly, baked pear. This was mindful at times of older Lopez whites and Chenin. Very interesting and fun to drink, but given the choice, I'd gladly steer to the regular unoaked version by a good margin for that crisp fresh style that really shows the grape and terroir.
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8/22/2020 - jmw17 Likes this wine:
Drank from fridge to 85 degree ambient temp on a hot summer night; deep golden hue; some oak on the nose and more on the palate but pleasant not splintery; 14.5% alc but showing no heat; flavors of champagne apples and chardonnay roundness; full body, well integrated and creamy texture. Acid in check Which is not a given for this grape. excelle t for the style, which is more burgundy/California than the typical ripping acidity of steel fermented Assyrtiko. This is a successful wine and likely to continue to improve.
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4/28/2020 - Larsrar wrote: 88 Points
Dark golden color, less fresh and crispy than and more oxidized than previous bottles. Either the wine changes dramatically in style as it matures or bottle variation...
I like oxidized styles of white wine like Rioja but for this I prefer the cleaner style I would normally expect from this wine.
I will certainly continue to drink this wine but perhaps start the drinking when younger...
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7/30/2019 - Larsrar Likes this wine: 90 Points
Golden color, citrus in the nose, good strong spicy taste, still lots of fruit, creamy mouthfeel, razor sharp acidity and good finish.
Nice now and should continue to drink well a couple of years.
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4/29/2018 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 93 Points
Brass coloured with a golden hue. Displays honey, grapefruit and yellow fruit aromas on its rather muted nose but this wine is all about what it reveals on the palate. Rich with a creamy texture that is lifted by its penetrating acidity and the strong mineral core. Very long and generous.
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7/30/2017 - eluebchow wrote: 90 Points
This was brought back from the winery in Greece; You can definitely smell some of the oak on the nose, although it's not overpowering; The palate still has the typical Sigalas notes of stone fruit, citrus and crushed rocks, but the oak does make the palate a little rounder and more plush
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6/1/2017 - Larsrar Likes this wine: 90 Points
Had the 2014 first time in 2015 where it impressed. Now two years later it still impresses and should continue to do so in the years to come.
I will try next bottle in 2019.
This wine has well integrated oak giving a buttery fell but balanced by a razor sharp acidity and a fresh minerality and fresh fruit.
I prefer this richer style compared to the leaner / cleaner style of Hatzidakis.
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11/21/2016 - Zweder wrote: 88 Points
Retailer tasting; just short notes. (@ AB): Concentrated wine with white fruits, minerals, vanilla, grapefruit and good acidity.
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2/16/2016 - quaffnov Likes this wine: 90 Points
Restaurant fare from Axios in Denver, an interesting expression of assyrtiko, with obvious barrel notes on both the nose and the palate of a strong buttery nature. Peach and chalk are the primary flavors that are also quite pronounced, with fresh acidity in the background.
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11/10/2015 - ChristopherB Likes this wine: 90 Points
Coravin'ed. Nice bright yellow colour. On the nose, we quickly perceive the aromatics notes of exposure to oak. These are then followed by the typical mineral and citrus aromas of Assyrtiko from Santorini. On the palate, the attack is frank with a good acidity and concentration, where after perceiving the aromas from the oak, the mineral and citrus aromas take the lead, leading to a good length. For having tasted several unoaked Assyrtiko from Santorini, including the non-barrel version of Sigalas' Assyrtiko (which I rate higher), I am not sure that I find the interest in exposing the wine to oak. I personally find that by doing so, we lose some of the typicity, originality and interest of Assyrtiko (which I love) which to me is to be found in the concentration, ageworthiness and aromas typical of the grape and the island it grows on. That being said, it remains a well made wine, but the addition of a more international style, I find somewhat unfortunate. Perhaps after it ages and the flavours meld, I will be proven wrong and it will turn out very well. Time will tell. Improves when exposed to air for a while.
Echantillon par Coravin. Belle robe jaune crystalline. Au nez, on retrouve dans un premier temps, un beau boisé qui s'en suit avec le côté mineral des assyrtiko de Santorin. En bouche l'attaque est franche avec ses arômes boisés et sur la longueur, on retrouve le côté mineral et citronné de l'Assyrtiko. Bonne concentration et longueur. Cependant, pour avoir goûté la version non-barriquée de plusieurs Assyrtiko de Santorin dont celui de Sigalas (qui obtiens une note plus élevée), je ne suis pas sûr de voir l'intérêt de le passer par des fûts de chêne. Pour moi, on perd la typicité du cépage et du terroir qui est, outre les autres qualités du vin, l'intérêt de ce vin. Dans tous les cas, c'est bon, c'est bien fait, mais l'ajout d'un côté un peu international au style traditionnel, je trouve un peu dommage. Peut-être avec quelques années en bouteille, le boisé va s'intégrer et je comprendrai que j'avais tord dans cette remarque initiale. Meilleur après une certaine exposition à l'air.
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10/4/2015 - Man in Black wrote:
Expressive nose with aromas of lemon peel, grass, fresh apricots and hints of fennel and cedar.
Dry in the mouth with a fresh zesty acidity and a remarkable concentration. The finish is persistent.
A nice wine, well-balanced and showing some complexity.
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8/19/2015 - MAOC wrote:
Mid yellow colour. The nose was originally quite Burgundian - creamy oak and ripe stone fruit made for a lovely profile - but increasingly the distinctive minerality and citrus tones came through as the oak integrated with air, and the herbs (fennel) showed in flecks. Better after a couple of years but I think this is smart handling of the grape. ***1/2+
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6/23/2015 - bryceandrachel Likes this wine:
Nice acidity, good fruit. Very pleasant to drink and good with food.
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5/6/2015 - Yiannis Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistent with previous note. Excellent but atypical assyrtiko, reminiscent of barrel aged sauvignon blanc. Pale yellow colour. Grapefruit, fig leaf and tropical scents such as pineapple and mango. Nicely integrated oak. Medium-bodied with vibrant fruit and bright acidity. Med-long, zesty aftertaste.
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3/3/2015 - Yorgos Likes this wine: 91 Points
Here the oak is felt more in the mouth than in the palate. Needs some time to integrate the oak better i think. Quite a lot of stone fruit and citrus, fatness that is cut throught by the minerals. In all however I would agree that you wouldnt recognize this wine as Santorini.
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3/3/2015 - Yiannis Likes this wine: 91 Points
Blind I would have guessed a high end oaked sauvignon blanc, even a Pessac-Leognan white! Expressive nose of mango, citrus fruit, minerality, green scents and nicely integrated oak. Medium+ bodied with richness and perfect balance. Long and pleasently bitter, zesty aftertaste. Atypical Santorini, but so enjoyable!
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