August 26, 2023 - This has good freshness and lift as I’ve found this producer a little heavy handed before, so a pleasant surprise. Medium to full body, fading around the rim. Some red cherry fruit, tomato leaf, a slightly and attractive sour note, some tannins still giving it some texture and quite a long finish, just staying on the fresh side of ripe.
July 2, 2022 - This may have been the first, or an early, bottling of this wine which Parker rated 94 points. There's no shortage of information all over the label about yeasts, climate, trellising, etc. complete with a Mercator map of the world locating Alpha Estate in a blow up buttle embossed in gold. Opened one hour before pouring, the wine shows a light Nebbiolo type nose with black fruits. On the palette a nice fruit forward attack with a medium finish and integrated tannins and mild acidity. The bottle is built like a battleship for no reason I can discern with a punt as deep as Delphi is high. I've no doubt the production values of this wine are high and much effort has gone in sculpting an enjoyable wine but I'm hard-pressed to say why I'd seek this out over a pinot noir or Barolo at this price point given the result. I'm looking for subsequent vintages to see how the winemaking style has developed.
March 1, 2020 - Although needing a few more years, this wine developed nicely over a few days using a Coravin each day.
March 21, 2018 - Not sure at "first smell" whether the wine was flawed. An awkward nose of fermented apple and pears. Similar "attack" in the mouth. Surprisingly, this is followed by a well balanced Bourgogne style wine. Arguably saving the show, but overall leaving a confusing experience. Not enough.
March 20, 2018 - Quite a weird wine, intense, loaded with fruit and acidity, complex, yet quite brutal, with rough tannins. In a way charming, but also unrefined and lacking elegance. Will let some bottles rest in cellar for some years and come back to it later...
January 14, 2018 - Alpha Estate's best ever. Silky, crisp and Burgundian in style, this 2013 seemed rather brilliant.
December 8, 2017 - Focused raspberry fruit aromas. Showing some leather to the nose, hot brick aromas, plum. Follows to the palate. Medium plus tannin. 98 year old, ungrafted plot. Lots of herb spice to the palate, more stock than herb, wrapped into the wine. 2 years in steam bent barrels, not toasted.
July 2, 2017 - I like this a lot ... and I am not sure I should. As mentioned by another taster, there is a definite modernist Barolo vibe here. OTOH, this is sooo smooth and fucking delicious with really honest Xino character that I don't find myself missing the edges and roughness that young Xino normally has. Tight and compact on the entry, but the dry down is Naoussa cherries and a little lanolin. Svelte and perfectly fitting its skin. This is a beautiful wine.
eta - There is something really smart in Papies' note - I think if you have had a lot of Xino, you will love this and if you have only had a little or none, you will love this wine. In between, you won't.
June 19, 2017 - Young and definitely benefit from decanting at this stage.
Xinomavro with lots of depth, a touch modern yes but a good side of modernity and the wine owns the oak which complements and ads a round character at this young age. Dark cherry feel and times reminded us of modernist Barolo without the tarry side. Made everyone including some hard to please oldtimers on the table smile. Very enjoyable and full of promise. 91 for now & great value for money
April 18, 2017 - Very aromatic after good 2 hours of decanting. Red cherries, a little floral, good amount of oak. Very modern and elegant xinomavro. The old vines give extra complexity. Balanced in the mouth. Will age very well.