Xinomavro Reserve [Old Vines] 'Ecosystem- Barba Yannis'

Score

93

Score

93

Score

93

Score

93

Score

93+

Score

92

"The sandy soils of Amyndeon have permitted these ungrafted xinómavro vines to thrive for over a century near what is now the border with Albania and North Macedonia. And the wine itself gives a sense of drilling down and then spreading its roots wide below—a three-dimensional presentation of ripe forest fruit and underbrush. Destemmed grapes ferment at low temperatures on native yeasts via a pied de cuve, the wine aging two years on its lees in new French oak. Earthy, fully realized in its complexity, this begs for roasted lamb with root vegetables."

Score

93

"Red fruit, spice box, roasted mushrooms and hints of tobacco on the nose of this savory and complex red. It's medium- to full-bodied with precise, very fine tannins. Elegant, fresh and composed. Vegan. Unfiltered. Drink or hold."

Score

17.5

"This seems to be getting lighter in colour with every vintage. In 2020, it is mid to light cherry red. Intense Xinomavro aromas of both sweet and sour cherry, wild flowers/herbs, just a hint of tomato leaf. Open and fragrant and with a stony/mineral dustiness to add another dimension to the fruit. Juicy, with masses of sweet/sour red fruit on the palate but no unwanted sweetness, immensely fresh, intense and finely balanced. Dry tannins yet not as marked by them as I might have expected for the variety. Pure, direct, long and with a very long life ahead. Benchmark, ageworthy Xinomavro with more depth on the mid palate then the Hedgehog Xinomavro. (JH)"

Score

93

"In a heavy glass bottle, the 2020 Amyndeon Xinomavro Ecosystem Reserve Vielles Vignes Barba Yannis sees fruit sourced from clay loam over limestone at a high 647 meters above sea level. These are ungrafted bush vines of Xinomavro aged in French oak for 24 months. The unfiltered wine has ripe raspberry and wild strawberry over a mid-weight finish. You might do well to serve this wine a few degrees chilled to bring out those tangy berry aromas. There is a hint of cinnamon and black pepper too. The wine embodies simple elegance and holds back on heaviness, which is its most charming feature."