Domaine Karydas Xinomavro 2015
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Xinomavro (pronounced ksee-NO-mah-vro) is the noblest red variety grown in Greece. The father-son team at Domaine Karydas produce a charmingly rustic expression of the grape from the vines surrounding the family home in the Macedonian appellation of Naoussa. The purple floral aromas and dried fruit and roasted meat flavors make this great wine a dead-ringer for Nebbiolo.
Perfect with grilled meats at a barbecue.
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Over 20 years ago Konstantinos Karydas established Karydas Estate in Ano Gastra, one of the most well-known grape-growing regions of Naoussa. His immaculately kept six acres of Xinomavro vines are planted on the hill of Gastra in sandy, clay and limestone soils, noted for their good drainage. In 1994, he built his winery in the middle of the vineyard and, shortly thereafter, his son Petros joined him to produce his first vintage under his own label. Their mission is to produce an old school, traditional single-vineyard Xinomavro with very little intervention. Strive for precision grape-growing and focused terrior-driven wines that are bold and exciting.
Native to Greece, Xinomavro is widely regarded the finest red wine of the country. Its name literally means “acid black”, and attains fullest potential in the country’s northwest region of Naoussa. These single varietal bottlings of Xinomavro (blending is not allowed here) are often compared to the fine Barolos of Italy for their structure, finesse and age-worthiness. While its vines are fickle and blue-black grapes grow in tight clusters, similar to Nebbiolo, Xinomavro actually appears unrelated. Somm Secret—The use of French oak can help tame Xinomavro but too much can overwhelm it. Some eschew oak entirely during winemaking; other producers use locally-grown walnut.
Naoussa is home to one of Greece’s most age-worthy reds: Xinomavro. Flourishing on the sun-exposed, southeastern-facing slopes of Mount Vermio between 700 to 1,700 feet in elevation, some say Xinomavro is Greece's red counterpart to its famous white, Assyrtiko. Others liken it to Italy's well-respected, highly perfumed and powerful, Nebbiolo.