Domaine Tatsis Young Vines 2017
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Domaine Tatsis Young Vines is a lively, fun wine with “crunchy” characters. Black olive, baking spices, violets and black fruit aromas develop into intriguing, deep and earthy flavors of dried cherries, violets and olive tapenade, with tomato leaf and black pepper notes. This wine is a blend of 60% Xinomavro and 40% Negoska. A dark grape with firm tannins and sturdy structure, Xinomavro is often compared to Nebbiolo for depth, complexity and ability to age. Negoska, on the other hand, has a soft, easy, herbal fruit character not unlike Dolcetto or Grenache. As per its name, this wine is made from young vines, 5-12 years old, 20% aged in one-year-old barrique and 80% in tank.
Since 1998 Periklis and Stergios started abandoning any use of chemicals in the vineyards and winery and began cultivating according to the rules of organic farming. In 2002 they started experimenting and finally implementing several principles of biodynamic agriculture.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
As one of the few continental-climate, mountainous growing areas of Greece, Macedonia produces notable, high-quality red wines. Xinomavro is its star variety, capable of making a spicy and age-worthy red.