KTIMA GEROVASSILIOU | Viognier | 2017
viognier

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Today we are going to review an absolutely gorgeous wine from the Epanomi region of Greece – Viognier 2017 by Ktima Gerovassiliou. This is a single varietal barrel fermented viognier wine that has been aged on fine lees for several months in order to enhance creaminess on the mouthfeel. Barrel fermentation for white wines is a winemaking technique that is used only for certain grape varieties, like chardonnay, semillon or viognier, and is meant to increase complexity, texture and flavor, as well as the wine’s body. Viognier is a white grape variety that originated in southern France and is most famous for its perfumed aromas of peach, tangerine and honeysuckle. Viognier is for those who love to stop and smell the flowers and for those who like chardonnay. But enough of all that theory – without further ado let’s move on, straight to the tasting!
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

//Visual
clarity: clear | hazy | cloudy | misty
brightness: dull | hazy | bright | starbright
concentration: translucent | pale | medium | deep | opaque
color: straw | yellow | gold | amber
hue: silver | green | orange | amber

//Sight
stain: light | medium | heavy
viscosity: low | medium | high
gas evidence: yes | no
sediment: yes | no

//Olfactory
outset: clean | faulty [TCA | sulphur | ethyl acetate | geosmin | brett | oxidation | VA]
intensity: delicate | light | moderate | rich | powerful
fruit profile: green fruits | citrus fruits | stone fruits | tropical fruits
__green fruits: gooseberry | kiwi | apple | pear | quince | wild apple | wild pear
__citrus fruits: orange | tangerine | grapefruit | pomelo | lemon | sweet lemon | lime
__stone fruits: apricot | peach | nectarine | pluot | mirabelle plum | honey melon
__tropical fruits: pineapple | mango | persimmon | passion fruit | lychee | dates | figs
fruit character: baked | unripe | ripe | overripe | jammy | dried

//Flavor
non fruit: floral | vegetal | herbal | spice | oak | sweet | animal | earth
__floral: linden flower | acacia blossom | orange blossom | honeysuckle
__vegetal: hay | wheat | nettle | dill | bell pepper | asparagus
__herbal: straw grass | green grass | eucalyptus | currant leaf
__spice: white pepper | cloves | anise | rosemary | ginger | mint
__oak: coconut | vanilla | dried banana | cinnamon | smoke | menthol
__sweet: corn | butter | honey | crème brûlée | caramel | toffee | marmalade
__animal: gravy | capocollo | veal| leather | musk | barnyard | horse saddle
__earth (organic): soil dust | turf | forest floor | compost | mushrooms | truffle
__earth (inorganic): limestone | chalk | slate | flint | aspirin | petroleum | varnish
__wood: [old | new | none] / [dried | roasted | charred]
aroma: primary | secondary | tertiary

//Palate
sweetness: bone dry | dry | off dry | sweet | extra sweet
acidity: low | med(-) | medium | med(+) | high
alcohol: low | med(-) | medium | med(+) | high
tannin: low | med(-) | medium | med(+) | high
__grip: fine | ripe | firm | green | rough
texture: creamy | round | lean
body: light | medium | full
balance: bad | poor | fair | good | fine
__dominant: sugar | acidity | alcohol | tannin | none
complexity: simple | moderate | complex

//Taste
fruit profile: malic | citric | stone | tropical | lactic
fruit character: baked | unripe | ripe | overripe | jammy | dried
non fruit: floral | vegetal | herbal | spice | oak | sweet | animal | earth
aroma: primary | secondary | tertiary
finish: short | med(-) | medium | med(+) | long
aftertaste: rough | astringent | seedy | appealing | velvety

//Scoring
KTIMA GEROVASSILIOU | Viognier | 2017
variety: viognier
origin: old world | new world
climate: cool | moderate | warm
country: Greece
region: Epanomi
rating: 95.0

//Conclusion
maturity: on the rise | in its prime | past its prime | on the decline
verdict: fair | good | fine | great | exceptional
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This is definitely an outstanding wine of Greece and with a total of 95.0 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.

Conclusion: this is a very fine viognier wine, one that is right there, at the summit of its prime form. Besides the fact that this wine has been fermented in french oak barrels, which enriched its complexity and body, the wine has been also aged on fine lees for several months, delivering more creaminess and elegance on the plate. We would suggest to drink it today or in the next 2 years, as this is a fine example of a white wine with a very promising ageing potential. In order to explore the wine’s full spectrum of aromas and flavours, we would recommend to pair it with creamy, white-sauce based dishes or dishes with smooth textures. Ya Mas!

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© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation.