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Decanter
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By Joanna Simon
(Gai’a, Thalassitis Oak Fermented Assyrtiko, Santorini, Aegean Islands, Greece, White) Login and subscribe to see review text.
Greek Assyrtiko Expert's Choice, 4/12/2017, (See more on Decanter...)
9/9/2017 - SuperSomm wrote:
Straw yellow colour. Red apples, citrus, flowers, flint and oak with hints of nuts and minerals. Taste of ripe red apples, citrus, nuts, oak and minerals. Long and fresh finish. Dry, yet fruity mouthfeel. A complex and fantastic wine with great potential if kept in the cellar for a couple of years. Goes well with lean fish or shellfish.
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5/1/2017 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Wine tasting in Greece; 4/28/2017-5/6/2017 (Athens, Santorini and Porto Heli): From tasting visit to Gaia winery. The third in the line up of 100% Assyrtiko wines we tasted on our visit. This one is barrel aged in oak for about 6 months. I liked all of the Gaia wines (my favorite of our three visits), but this is the one I would least prefer to drink. For my tastes, I just don't think the oak is actually improving the wine, which is lovely on its own. In this case the oak imparts a heavier mouthfeel and a smoothing of the assertive acidity. Still pleasant but not as much vitality.
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7/25/2016 - forceberry wrote: 91 Points
Fermented and aged in new Nevers oak barriques for 5-6 months.
Quite intense and deep, greenish color. Aromatic and complex nose with more sweeter edge than the nose of the regular Thalassitis. Nuanced aromas of ripe citrus fruits, cream, some pineapple-driven tropical fruits and a hint of vanilla. Very intense, full-bodied and even robust palate with dry, intense and concentrated flavors of creamy oak, tart lemon, sweet woody spice, some mineral salinity, a hint of pineapple and a touch of butter. Piercing, racy acidity gives the wine remarkable structure and intensity. Long, intense and mouthwatering finish with powerful saline and lemony notes, pronounced stony minerality, lots of creamy oak, woody spice, some butter and a hint of complex caramel notes. An aftertaste reminding of salted lemon wedges persists on the tongue for a long time.
Just like the regular Thalassitis, also the oak-aged version is incredibly impressive, structured and robust expression of Santorini Assyrtiko - truly a Mediterranean white wine of the highest degree! The oak characteristics give the wine a more approachable expression, so the wine necessarily doesn't need that much ageing before opening, but to my tastes, the oakiness is still a notch too dominant, which is why I'd let the wine sit for awhile, giving the oak more time to integrate. At least in its current state, I prefer the regular Thalassitis over this one, but only by a small margin; I can imagine that this wine will age gracefully and turn towards more Burgundian style over the years. Highly recommended and definitely a good buy at 23€ at the winery.
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7/22/2016 - "Rhône Rider" Likes this wine: 88 Points
Tasted at the winery at Santorini. Vanilla , Citrus, honey, flowers and some herbs. Quite viscous. . Tight and fresh, needs food. Too much vanilla for my palate. 88
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