Liquorice root and brown sugar, red berries and sun-dried tomatoes, with some brown spices. Fleshy feel to it, with plenty of silty tannin, some ripe strawberries and a slight pomegranate tartness to flavour profile. Finish is slick with tannin and it pulls a bit more weighty as it closes. Interesting wine, meant in a positive sense.

Stellios Boutaris is the fifth generation winemaker, today heading up Kir-Yianni, founded in 1997 by his father, Yiannis, following his departure from the Boutari family business. Boutari, the largest and oldest wine company in Greece, had been established by Yiannis’ grandfather in 1879.

Kir-Yianni makes wine across two regions in the north of Greece – Amyndeon and Naoussa, with the aim of producing terroir driven wines that speak of place. In Naoussa, the 58 Ha vineyard is located on the east slopes of Mount Vermion, situated at an altitude of 250 to 350 m.a.s.l. on sandy, clay soils. Located at just 100 km from the Agean Sea, it enjoys a cool, Mediterranean climate. In contrast, Amyndeon is the coldest wine growing region in Greece. At an altitude of 750 m.a.s.l. the climate is continental, tempered only by the presence of four lakes which create a very special microclimate. The soils are poor and sandy, and unaffected by phylloxera. Specialising in the native Greek grape variety – xinomavro, the wines of both Naoussa and Amyndeon have a layered complexity of fruit and serious acidity, which give them a unique character and long ageing potential.

Kir-Yianni Kali Riza Xinomavro 2022