by Patrick Ogle
Kir-Yianni's Ramnista is a big, tannic red with the potential to age for quite some time. A co-worker came up with an apt description of this wine; it tastes like a syrah had a baby with a nebbiolo. I wish I could take credit for that statement!
Of course this faux coupling of syrah and nebbiolo takes place in Greece so there is a mineral quality in the wine (please note xinomavro has no relation to syrah or nebbiolo in reality). Xinomavro is its OWN thing, with its own character and comparisons to other grapes do not do it justice. We could just as easily compare the more well-known grapes to xinomavro. Greek varietals are well-worth exploring.
There is a tannic bite that mellows with air but this is a wine you likely want to keep around for a few years before opening. It could last quite a long time. If you do open it let it get some air before drinking.
A bright cherry taste emerges from beneath the tannins. In some wines strong in tannin all you get is that sensation but here you get this bright fruit as well. Do not confuse "bright" with "light" here; this is not a light wine, it is complex and heavy. There is depth here and a sharp, prolonged acidity. While it might be something to save it will also be a wine that is hard to NOT drink. Buy two and save one! This wine particular wine is from the 2011 vintage. This wine ages for 18 months in 225 and 500 liter French and American oak, then ages another 6 months in the bottle before release.
We've written before about xinomavro but that was a rosé from this same producer. This red is different creature. The company also makes a rosé sparkler from the grape.
Kir-Yianni's Ramnista is a big, tannic red with the potential to age for quite some time. A co-worker came up with an apt description of this wine; it tastes like a syrah had a baby with a nebbiolo. I wish I could take credit for that statement!
Of course this faux coupling of syrah and nebbiolo takes place in Greece so there is a mineral quality in the wine (please note xinomavro has no relation to syrah or nebbiolo in reality). Xinomavro is its OWN thing, with its own character and comparisons to other grapes do not do it justice. We could just as easily compare the more well-known grapes to xinomavro. Greek varietals are well-worth exploring.
There is a tannic bite that mellows with air but this is a wine you likely want to keep around for a few years before opening. It could last quite a long time. If you do open it let it get some air before drinking.
A bright cherry taste emerges from beneath the tannins. In some wines strong in tannin all you get is that sensation but here you get this bright fruit as well. Do not confuse "bright" with "light" here; this is not a light wine, it is complex and heavy. There is depth here and a sharp, prolonged acidity. While it might be something to save it will also be a wine that is hard to NOT drink. Buy two and save one! This wine particular wine is from the 2011 vintage. This wine ages for 18 months in 225 and 500 liter French and American oak, then ages another 6 months in the bottle before release.
We've written before about xinomavro but that was a rosé from this same producer. This red is different creature. The company also makes a rosé sparkler from the grape.
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