2014 Athens Wine Event ( with a bit of Santorini)

Athens & Santorini
Tasted Thursday, June 19, 2014 - Sunday, June 22, 2014 by Papies with 862 views

Introduction

Add a very good friends' wedding as an excuse to go to Athens in June and Santorini for a spot of some great wines with great friends.

Flight 1 - Dinner at Funky Gourmet (9 Notes)

Athens' answer to El Bulli with some distinct Greek takes on molecular cuisine. nice of the to allow BYOB

  • 2003 Gravner Breg Anfora 91 Points

    Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezia Giulia IGT

    (6/19/2014)

    Blind tasted. Orange- copper in colour, nose is light oxidative , only association we could make was with a very mature Rhone white. A very special type of wine , distinct in all aspects and a bit of a marmite love or hate style. For sure very interesting and among the most difficult to try blind. 91-92 from us.

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  • 2008 Sadie Family Palladius 92 Points

    South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland, Malmesbury

    (6/19/2014)

    Blind tasted. Good glossy colour, nose pointed toga Chenin, good ripe fruit, no feel of oak here. Nice waxy texture,ripe fruit on the palate, rich and balanced. Carries the age well and has a lot of ageing potential and probably better enjoyed post 5 yrs in bottle.92-93

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  • 2002 Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard 95 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    (6/20/2014)

    Blind tasted. This wine showed two different sides over one hour that we monitored it. It started of, light, restrained, smoky edge on the nose, light fruit, light oaky feel. Post the 30 minute mark it developed more vavavoom, the oak started to show more along with its ripe fruit core. Very elegant, and beautiful wine and a true privilege to have come across it. 95 for now but has a lot of life ahead of it and will easily score higher for us.

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  • 1999 Serafin Père et Fils Charmes-Chambertin 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

    (6/19/2014)

    Blind tasted. Dark in colour and although the nose was clearly of a Pinot we toyed with the idea of being a a new world, given colour, ripe core and richness. However the lack of sweet oak pushed us back to a 1999 burg and voted for Musigny. The wine is big and still very young, not austere by any measure but has a loooong life ahead of this. This. Old be like the 1990 that it's still going very strong today. Was made with a bit of a heavier hand than the usual Serafin style . 93 for now

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  • 1999 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 96 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Sassicaia

    (6/19/2014)

    Served blind. Needs decanting. We all said this was a st julien, very clearly a Bordeaux and a great one too:). A magnificent wine just about entering its drinking window and with a lot of life ahead of it. Light herby, good solid ripe core of fruit, beautifully balance and sheer class. We can go on for a long time here. 96 and time would only make it better.

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  • 2005 Tsantali Kormilitsa Gold 92 Points

    Greece, Macedonia, Mt. Athos

    (6/19/2014)

    Blind tasted. We really thought this was a super Tuscan. We could have put money on.. Lots of ripe fruit, sweet core, decent amount of oak. Albeit the combination of this 3 usually spells a wine we don't like in this case it worked. Made famous as the Kremlin house wine it definitely has enough power to impress mr Putin. 92-93 and not sure how it ages.

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  • 2004 Tua Rita Syrah 94 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    (6/19/2014)

    Blind tasted. No clue this was a Syrah, zero clues. Even Patrick who offered this and knew did not believe it was a Syrah. We voted a Ribera del duero.... Full on dark dense, modern bolgheri, full of ripe core of fruit, sweet notes from the oak. Well round though, no hash edges . Rich dark fruit. As a wine it's pretty solid but definitely a result of heavy handed wine making, but somehow it worked. 94 and drink now.

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  • 1995 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (6/19/2014)

    Blind tasted. Dark, youthful, felt like a big Gaja Barolo at times, with ripe fruit core, dark cherry notes. Or at least that is what we thought.big wine, powerful, and although has seen a fair amount of oak in its life it is the wine that dominates the oak. Pretty solid and impressive although it came after a long line of great wines . 94-95 and lots of life ahead of it.

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  • 1971 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon 92 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon

    (6/19/2014)

    Blind tasted. Needs decanting to develop. Orange, light caramel in colour. A desert wine for people who don't like very sweet wines. Big acidity here, sharp, focused and with a lot of character. Almost unique.. At 43 it shows no signs of letting go. Very nice and complex even at end of a massive wine line up. 92

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Flight 2 - Visit to Hatzidakis Winery (7 Notes)

We begged and we got a visit at our favourite producer from the island. not a touristy visit at all, just the man himself showing us round his vineyards ( impressive to see the koukle urea or basket style of vines) and new cellars as well as taking us through his wines. A man of few words, very few but full of insight.

  • 2013 Hatzidakis Winery Aidani 89 Points

    Greece, Aegean, Cyclades, Santorini

    (6/21/2014)

    Tasted at the estate with Haridimos Hatzidakis.
    A wine of two faces, very distinct and full of character. On the nose it is aromatic, floral, light exotic fruits, playful and gives hint of a light wine. But no! On the palate it is firm, punchy, sharp andwithpresence. Very good and with good ageing capacity.89

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  • 2013 Hatzidakis Winery Assyrtiko Santorini 88 Points

    Greece, Aegean, Cyclades, Santorini

    (6/21/2014)

    Tasted at the estate with Haridimos Hatzidakis.
    Young, light yellow in colour , citrus notes, shy nose at this youthful juncture. Fresh, full on acidity, mineral palate. Good structure across albeit t this stage not t its most giving. 88 for now and needs time, lots of ageing capacity here.

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  • 2013 Hatzidakis Winery Assyrtiko Cuvée No.15 91 Points

    Greece, Aegean, Cyclades, Santorini

    (6/21/2014)

    Tasted at the estate with Haridimos Hatzidakis.
    Named after the tank that is fermented and aged for 8 months and of 100% organic viticulture including the lightest touch of sulphur. Bottled very recently. No oak and shows you can create a fatter assyrtiko without it. Rounder, smoother texture, complex and very elegant. The acidity and minerality are there but are surrounded with a riper fruit veil. 91 and time will only make it better.

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  • 2012 Hatzidakis Winery Assyrtiko de Mylos Vieilles Vignes 90 Points

    Greece, Aegean, Cyclades, Santorini

    (6/21/2014)

    Tasted at the estate with Haridimos Hatzidakis.
    Light golden in colour. No oak. Proper , textbook assyrtiko with all the hallmarks. Young at this stage and with lots of capacity to improve. Quite shy at times but still full of promise. 90-91

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  • 2012 Hatzidakis Winery Assyrtiko Nykteri

    Greece, Aegean, Cyclades, Santorini

    (6/21/2014)

    Tasted at the estate with Haridimos Hatzidakis.
    Just bottled so not yet in full balance so not a full TN. Well ripe grapes here, the only assyrtiko that now sees oak from the hatzidakis stable and is a richer, fuller expression, ripe and extracted however maintains the freshness and acidity. This 2012 had a bit of oak to assimilate at this stage though. In general its a very solid wine.

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  • 2011 Hatzidakis Winery Mavrotragano

    Greece, Aegean, Cyclades, Santorini

    (6/21/2014)

    Tasted at the estate with Haridimos Hatzidakis.
    Young and restrained but interestingly and lighter expression of this little understood and rare grape. A touch shy at this stage on the nose, light red fruits. A touch smoky? A Burgundian expression of mavrotragano especially compared to the Sigalas amarone-esque version that we have come across recently. Needs ageing.

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  • 2004 Hatzidakis Winery Nama 92 Points

    Greece, Aegean, Cyclades, Santorini

    (6/21/2014)

    Tasted at the estate with Haridimos Hatzidakis.
    We believe this is made from mandilaria red grape. Sun dried red grapes (hence not a vinsanto) vin rouge naturellement doux. Having tried his vinsanto we could see hallmarks of his style, rustic, with a lot of weight but lots of acidity stops the wine feeling cloying and heavy. Vinsanto with a red fruit twist we might say. Pretty solid wine. 91-92

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Flight 3 - Out and about in Santorini (5 Notes)

Flight 4 - Lunch at Chez Bassoul! (4 Notes)

  • 1985 Bollinger Champagne R.D. Extra Brut 94 Points

    France, Champagne

    (6/22/2014)

    June 1997 discorgement and exported to Greece . blind Tasted.
    Golden colour, deep colour yet glossy still. Lit oxidation on the nose, very vinous champagne yet the palate is full of life. Light on the bubbles and definitely one to drink sooner than later. A very pretty wine full of complexity and a joy for those who love old mature rich champagnes. Interesting label ( uploaded) . Only issue is that it tailed off quickly in the glass so one should have this sooner than later. 94

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  • 2004 Colgin Syrah IX Estate 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (6/22/2014)

    Blind tasted. Decanted for like 30 mins with minimal impact. Wine is very young. Very much a new world syrah and Andreas thought it was an Australian , while Nicol stuck to her US guns. Spicy nose, rich red fruits, quite a lore of ripe fruit core, good amount of oak still and lots of presence. It was a joy to have but really this needs a lot of time still and we we argue against drinking it young. Andreas 93/ Nicol 95. Needs time and would def improve more.

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  • 2006 Sine Qua Non Syrah A Shot in the Dark 94 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    (6/22/2014)

    Blind tasted and for the first 30 mins we had no clue what this was other than it being a new world wine. After that it started to show more and more its syrah spicy notes, big wine rich and although has seen a fair amount of oak it felt elegant and balanced. Very young and needs a good 10yrs to get to its smoother side so unless one likes really young rich oaky reds this is not the time for this wine. Still very solid. Interesting fact is we had it side by side with a Colgin 2004 IX Syrah and his felt shy vs that.94 but with age will def score higher

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  • 1997 M. Chapoutier Hermitage Vin de Paille 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (6/22/2014)

    From half a bottle and blind tasted. Andreas guessed early 2000s Rhone straw wine and no one will hear the end of his successful (near hit) guess. Big acidity here keeps the wine in check and this is a good wine for those who don't like overly sweet yet rich wines. Nice aromatics of dried ripe fruits and pretty long finish. Very nice 93-94

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