While the hype on the pretty Naoussa 2011 vintage rumbles on I looked on how the 2007s were ageing For various reasons it was annus horribilis The year of wild fires In the Peloponnese alone 5 million olive trees were lost Drought during the vegetative cycle Heat spikes Not the easiest of the recent potentially great vintages As ampelographer and now winemaker Haroula Spinthiropoulou ponders Nature adapts but it is the speed of change that she has a hard time coping with Stylistically the lookedat 2007s from my archive cellar were all over the place Aromaticwise this grape somehow manages to deliver despite the aforementioned testing weather loops There were premature signs of brickred rim colour Some welldone rusticity and I do not include Brett in that umbrella term It was also one of the most enjoyable tasteoffs in ages One of those rare moments that wine satisfies deeply beyond the hedonist in us It left inner glowing embers The reviewed wine stood out head and shoulders for its colour freshness and ripetannin tasty structure Oenologist Dimitri Sgiannis is a Naoussa insider He first came to my attention with his other Naoussa efforts with another heatwave year the 2000 He then made his mark with his gentle touch in taming the wild side of the ever fascinating and playful Xinomavro The name place for this classy varietal is Roudina in Nea Strantza It is worth watching as the singular character of this wine weighs in with gusto In this challenging year only a handful stand out with such compelling conviction
Tawny ruby Strawberry scented Attractive fruited ripe tannins Earthy spice succulence Richer and sweeter than any other wine in this vintage Keeps evolving in the glass Focused austere finish Serious Worth ageing The single vineyard character is a revelation
Best 2013 2023
Wine: Xinomavro Averoff
Year: 2007
Link: http://www.katogi-strofilia.gr
Score: 18.5
Type: Red
Variety: Xinomavro
Area: Macedonia