Agiorgitiko by any other name...

You hear a lot of things about a lot of things when you talk to as many people as I do in the good name of wine promotion.  And one of the points that gets raised from time to time about the difficulty in understanding the wines of Greece is that "They're just so, well....Greek!"  they say gesturing to the long words on the label.

There is good news in regards to at least one of these unpronounceable varieties.   Agiorgitiko (Ahh-your-yeetiko)-as in (not-my-yeetiko) means Saint George in Greek, and sometimes the winemakers just call it that. Saint George.  Right there on the label in plain English. 

Agiorgitiko, aka Saint George, aka the blood of Hercules, is the top variety in the Nemea region of Southern Greece (we just had a killer single vineyard one from Aivalis called Monopati at the Giorgio's dinner last night.)  It comes in all shapes and sizes, from soft and tannin-less little fruit bombs to monsters like the Aivalis that will remind more to Brunello than Beaujolais.   There are many wines well worth your time and attention. 

But don't take my word for it, check out this thoroughly convincing and informative blog post by our good friend and fellow Greek wine aficionado Nick Baldwin at his new site Nicholasbaldwin.com, Blood of Hercules. 


http://www.nicholasbaldwin.com/blog/2013/11/13/blood-of-hercules#comments-52838503e4b043b800f024eb

"If you ever had the chance to try a wine made of St. George, I highly recommend it. Like us Greeks, you too will then have the Blood of Hercules in you."


We couldn't have said it better ourselves!

European Tour Tasting

 

Please join me on Saturday November 16 from 2-5 for a

European Tour Tasting 

@ Arrowine and Spirits DC

2175 K St NW
Washington, DC 20037
(entrance is on 22nd St NW, next to Starbucks)

Phone: 202-785-0785

We will be tasting some great values from across Europe at incredible prices.  Great for Holiday entertining!

Kir Yianni Akakies Sparkling Rose, Greece

Organic

Esporao Reserva Branco 2012, Portugal

Grand Prize winner Pick of the Press 2013 

 Borges Lello Tinto 2010, Douro

La Bouissiere Gigondas 2009, France

Biodynamic

Greek Wine Dinner

Greek Wine Dinner

 November 21 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

@ Giorgio's of Montclair

featuring the cuisine of chefs George and Michael Lampros paired with some of the hottest Greek wine producers today!
Guest speakers Ted Manousakis, owner of Manousakis Winery, Crete and Fani Kolaki, Greek Oenologist  
will join Sommelier and Greek wine specialist Arthur Lampros in presentation and discussion of the wines.
Check out the full menu and list of wines here:

 http://giorgiosfamilyrestaurant.com/event/greek-wine-dinner/

Seating is limited.

 Make your Reservations Now!

  $75 per person  (Tax & Tip Included)

Please Call 703-583-9463 to reserve. 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

GREEK WINE DINNER

November 21, 2013

Aperitif

2011 Kir-Yianni Akakies Sparkling Xinomavro, Naoussa

Meze

Assorted Spreads, Olives, Cheese

2012 Zoenos Winery White “Z”, Ioannina

2012 Avantis Estate White, Evia

Seafood

Grilled Whole “Lavraki” (Branzino)

with Horta (Greens)  Vegetables “Vrasta”

2012 Manousakis Estate Nostos Roussane, Crete

Seafood

“Stifado” of Octopus

2009 Kir-Yianni Ramnista, Naoussa

Meats

Lamb “Kleftiko”

2007 Manousakis Estate Nostos Red, Crete

Soutzoukakia

(Pork and Beef Meatballs)

2010 Aivalis Estate Monopati Red Agiorgitiko, Nemea

Dessert

Karydopita (Walnut Cake) with Merenta

Yiourti me Meli  (Imported Greek Yogurt with Kalymnian Honey)

Served with Coffee

$75 per person  (Tax & Tip Included)

Please Call 703-583-9463 to reserve.

7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Grand Prize given to Esporao Reserva White 2012!

In the latest edition of The Revista dos Vinhos (Portugal's equivalent of the Wine Spectator) Esporao White Reserva 2012 was awarded the Grand Prize in the still white category by The Portuguese Press 2013.

http://www.revistadevinhos.pt/artigos/show.aspx?seccao=noticias&artigo=12057&title=a-imprensa-escolhe-os-melhores-vinhos&idioma=pt

The 2012 also happens to sport my favorite label art in recent history.  Esporao, if you remember, commisions new artwork by Portuguese artists each vintage from it's reserva tier on up through the Garrafeiras.  This series is by Felipe Oliveira Baptista and you can learn more about the artist and his vision for the series at the Esporao blog, notesfromesporao.  http://notesfromesporao.com/2013/05/graphic-thoughts-artist-felipe-oliveira-baptista-marries-values-and-landscapes-for-esporao-reserva%E2%80%99s-25th-anniversary/

Thanks to the team at Wells!

Thank you to the great team at 

Wells Discount Liquors

(serving Baltimore since 1937!)

I had a fantastic time pouring wines for the holidays during their huge, store wide wine sale.  The two favorites of the night were the Avantis Malagousia and Paolo Laureano's Ema's Vineyard Red.  These wines are excellent out of the box choices for anyone hoping to move beyond riesling and pinot noir this Thanksgiving. 

Avantis Malagousia

Best of Greece-Evia

Jasmine-Citrus-Rose

Malagousia is an ancient Greek variety- considered their richest and most noble white grape. Intense exotic fruit aromas and elegant floral characteristics- Fruity palate with crisp acidity and notes of grapefruit, lime, white peach, pear, lemon blossom and hints of minerality.

perfect for Mezze…

baked Feta pie, hummus and pita

Ema’s Vineyard Red

by Paolo Laureano

100% Portuguese Varieties

With respect to the character and terroir of Portugal, famed oenologist Paolo Laureano has crafted a sleek and soulful blend of Aragonez, Trincadeira, Tinta Grossa, and Alicante Bouschet. Reminiscent of Spain’s Priorat wines, the Alentejo region’s schist soils and warm sun lend an abundance of ripe red fruits and blackberry liqueur. Plush and full bodied, against a backdrop of stony minerality.

 


During the Wells semi-annual wine sale, you buy one bottle and get an identical bottle for half off.  That applies to their entire selection.  What a great deal.  Sale runs through Monday. 

Portuguese Wine Dinner Tomorrow Night 8/28/2013!

There will be a wonderful Wine Dinner tomorrow evening in Vienna, VA @ Cafe Renessaince-presented by Sommelier Kirby Pope.  Details in the link below!

http://thenativegrape.blogspot.com/p/events.html

Quinta de Soalheiro Alvarinho Scores 93 Points in The Wine Advocate

Say what you will about the points not mattering anymore, it's still exciting when one of your favorite producers lands a 93 in The Wine Advocate.  Parabens to the Quinta de Soalheiro Alvarinho 2012 for achieving this accolade.  The Quinta de Soalheiro were pioneers of the Melgaco portion of the Monção e Melgaco high elevation subzone of Vinho Verde, and in his review Mark Squires calls them "one of Portugal’s (and the world’s) top Alvarinho producers."

The review also makes a great case for the category of quality Alvarinho, saying "Treat this like quality wine. It is not stereotypical Vinho Verde. There is no fizz. It is dry. It will age well if well stored."  The other great news, aside from 2012 being a "perfect harvest" according to the winery, is that for once this is a wine that is available!  In my neck of the woods Ian Stalfort at The Wine Source and Lee Grandes at Wells Liquors, both in Baltimore, are two guys that have dedicated shelf and brain space to quality Portuguese wines for years.  Go see them!

http://www.the-wine-source.com/
http://www.wellswine.com/
 

Congratulations to this "sunny place"...Quinta de Soalheiro!

Wine Advocate Subscribers can check out the full review here:

http://www.erobertparker.com/newSearch/th.aspx?th=218914&id=1&___z=%2b16bbJQsgQQXc47kEaaCRQ%3d%3d