KTIMA GEROVASSILIOU | Syrah | 2022
syrah

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Ktima Gerovassiliou was founded by Vangelis Gerovassiliou in 1981, who revived the family’s vineyard in Epanomi. Trained in oenology at the University of Bordeaux under the tutelage of the legendary Professor Emile Peynaud, then gaining important experience at Domaine Porto Carras, where he revived the nearly extinct Malagousia grape variety, Vangelis brought his dedication to quality and innovation home to Epanomi, where he promoted Ktima Gerovassiliou to a benchmark winery on the greek wine scene.
Today we are going to review a single-varietal syrah that comes from the Epanomi sub-region of Macedonia in northern Greece – Syrah 2022 by Ktima Gerovassiliou. In a world where bolder is better, syrah is the perfect choice, as it is darker and spicier than cabernet sauvignon and contains a high amounts of health-invigorating antioxidants. Syrah, also known as Shiraz, can be vinified in two major styles: old-world style and new-world style. The old-world syrah wines tend to have more acidity and displays earthy-herbaceous aromas on the nose, while the new-world shiraz wines are usually dusty and fruit-forward, with lots of spice and nuanced hints of smoke.

Today’s wine is from the first category – an old-world-styled syrah wine, vinified in a french styled manner, made with 100% syrah grapes that were sourced from the winery’s very first vineyards, planted in Epanomi micro-region, whose unique terroir plays a crucial role in shaping the character of this syrah wine. In order to preserve the varietal characteristics of the syrah grape variety, the wine has been fermented in neutral oak vessels from Burgundy, then aged only for a limited time in french oak barrels, with additional bottle ageing time before it was deemed ready for the market release.

The Epanomi wine region, situated in the northern part of Greece, near the city of Thessaloniki, benefits from a Mediterranean climate, surrounded on three sides by the sea, and is characterized by mild winters and hot summers. Proximity to the sea provides cooling breezes that moderate extreme temperatures, allowing the grapes to ripen fully while retaining vital acidity, while the sandy soils, with calcareous rocks imbued with sea fossils, provide excellent drainage, fostering healthy vine growth. This micro-terroir is particularly favorable for cultivating indigenous varieties like Assyrtiko and Malagousia, resulting in fresh and well-balanced wines. High diurnal ranges between day and night temperatures allow the grapes to mature slowly, which provides a firm backbone to the wines, with fresh acidity and a firm tannic structure.

color: medium-deep ruby color
clarity: hazy ruby shades at the rim

In the glass, the wine displays a medium-deep ruby color, with hazy ruby accents at the rim, indicative of its youth and vibrancy.

intensity: pronounced & oaky
fruit character: overripe & dehydrated

On the first nose, this wine unveils a rich and savory accent, with ripe fruits (think plum, blackberry, redcurrant and cranberry), that re complemented by nuanced savory undertones of old leather, iron, and kalamata olive, alongside a rustic touch of earthiness and subtle spices like red pepper and paprika.

sweetness: dry | acidity: high | alcohol: high | tannin: high | balance: good
finish: medium+ | aftertaste: seedy-astringent

On the palate, the wine is structured yet delicate, with a seedy and angular mouthfeel. There’s a touch of phenolic bitterness and a pleasant astringency, balanced by exuberant acidity and a noticeable alcoholic warmth, that creates a seedy-astringent finish, indicative of its youthful character and potential for aging.

maturity: developing | needs more time | age for at least 3 or 4 years
verdict: fine | an excellent wine | a wine of premium quality with good potential

Overall, this is a complex and distinctly rustic syrah wine that accurately reflects its varietal origins through an old-world lens. It displays very good varietal typicity, reminiscent of french styled syrah wines, but with an added layer of delicacy. In its current youthful state, the wine lacks the elegance of those top syrah wine from Rhône valley. This wine clearly needs more time to develop and settle down – we recommend cellaring it for another 3 to 4 years to allow the tannins to soften a bit, as the wine holds good promise.

The wine’s robustness and savory profile makes it an excellent match for rich dishes like game, lamb with vegetables, and red meat cuts. The wine’s delicate structure and robust complexity will also complement lovely hard cheeses, creating an explosion of flavors and textures. Enjoy!
KTIMA GEROVASSILIOU | Syrah | 2022
variety: syrah
country: Greece
region: Macedonia | Epanomi
rating: 93.9

Beyond Vangelis Gerovassiliou’s celebrated revival of Malagousia grape variety, the Ktima Gerovassiliou winery is fascinating in itself – it is a haven for biodiversity, documented to host 28 different bird species, reflecting the health of the ecosystem fostered by sustainable farming practices that promote biodiversity.

© 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. Cheers!