3/2/2017 - kostasath wrote:

pale golden colour

oxidative notes and ripe yellow fruits & minerality

full bodied, oily texture, alcohol sweetiness, distinctive salinity, yummy!

~Der Ingenieur~

11/18/2015 - kostasath wrote:

colour: deep ruby, young looking
aroma: really appealing, dark fruit, smoke, straightforward
taste: first impression round, medium acidity
body and aftertaste: medium bodied, 7 sec medium tannic aftertaste

verdict: quite simple food friendly Rioja for everyday, very good QPR

~Der Ingenieur~

11/7/2015 - kostasath wrote:

-Colour: Deep opaque, purple rim, medium legs.

-Aromas: Magnificent fresh intense and expressive nose, dark berries, oak fully supported by the fruit, spice, mint, a hint of leather (though not pretty sure there).

-Body: Medium+ to full -bodied

-Taste: Enters smoothly in the mouth,and then BOOM! Juicy fruit, tannins of good quality cover your mouth (though a little edgy at the moment even for my taste) and then high acidity takes over driving you to complex (fruity-spicy) long aftertaste ~15sec.

Verdict:- Overall great wine to enjoy with food at the moment
-Pricey (35 Euros in Germany)
-Maybe too young to drink
-Interesting ageing potential
-Would buy again in order to keep it for a while
- A good greek Cab

P.S. 1 If you don't agree with my rating plz let me know.
P.S. 2 Danke Herr Kokkalis für den tollen Wein.

~Der Ingenieur~

2/11/2014 - kostasath wrote:

Pretty much consistent with Yiannis. I would like also to add that the winemaker Karydas is considered one of the traditional winemakers of Naoussa. Nevertheless this Xin wine combines the new school (fruity aromas and juicy fruit on the palate) and the old school (tomato aromas and solid structure) of Naoussa. A very appealing wine, though it is very young and at the moment needs 1-2 hours of decanting in advance. It shows good potential to age gracefully.

2/11/2014 - kostasath wrote:

Medium ruby opaque with purple hues.Mature red fruits along with blackcurrants and and vanilla while on the background there is a lingering vegetative or forest floor aroma (though there is a hint of alcohol more perceptible than what I normally like). A multi dimensional wine with many layers which gives you the feeling of a more expensive wine. On the palate (great!): Merlot adds good texture and smoothness while Xinomavro adds great mouthwatering acidity and persistent gripping tannins. The result is that the wine enters smoothly giving you nice red fruit and sun dried blackcurrants and finishes persistently with red fruits and hints of olives.

Truly a magnificent vintage but not a very typical Xin wine. Very enjoyable after all, but still young! 90 points for now.It needs some time to get better. If I may guess 5 or more years of cellaring should be enough.

10/7/2013 - kostasath Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable red wine made from the indigenous Greek grape variety called Limnio. Colour: Nice tempting ruby. On the nose it appears restrained with a leathery smell initially but after some time of decanting this smell vanishes and gives its place to beautiful sweet spices (vanilla and cinammon), nice little red fruits (red berries & strawberry) and a hint of earthiness. On the palate it presents fleshy (really smooth at the same time) tannins, good fruit concentration and refreshing acidity which drives to a medium length, spicy (almost peppery) aftertaste. Overall a well made and elegant wine from an ancient Greek grape variety. It was combined really well with spicy "biftekia"(Greek beef burgers) with tomato and oregano. Retail price: 11 Euros (In Greece)

4/30/2013 - kostasath Likes this wine:

It was gifted to me by a friend. It is a Santorini by far different in comparison with younger vintages that I have tasted. The colour is yellow gold and it has medium legs. The minerality that I was expecting on the nose did not exist. On the contrary it can be described as a blend of sweet aromas (orange flowers and honey) and petrol aromas. On the palate it is a little salty, remarkably fresh and mighty even after all these years of aging! Very tasty and rare Santorini. The body has an oily texture which in addition with the vivid acidity causes a long and kinda bitter-sour finish (like orange peels). It is not the classic Santorini that can be found in a local liquor store and indicates clearly how fascinating greek wines can be. If i may guess, it can be aged at least 4 more years, but i don't find the reason to do so because it is very enjoybale at the moment.

4/22/2013 - kostasath Likes this wine:

I bought this bottle as a student and I opened it now and unforunately the storing conditions were not the ideal ones. Straw yellow colour. The nose is dominated by yellow fruits (citrus initially and while time passes sweeter fruit aromas emerge), minerality and subtle oak (it offers a lovely nutty touch). Medium-bodied, evidently salty, refreshing acidity and well integrated oak which gives a long complex, but focused finish. I feel very lucky because I have one more bottle in my cellar. I will wait at least 2 more years before I open it! Till then...Cheers!!