Melina Tassous first wine making experience was as an Erasmus exchange student in the Loire working with Grolleau in Angers Much has happened since then A cosmopolitan 30something with professional forays in Australia and Burgundy she and her family has done much for putting Greek Thrace on the qualitywine map The vineyards were planted by her father Apostolos a pioneer of modern viticulture on this northernAegean shoreline Their wines are elegant polished capable to morph into unusual complexity with ageing A mix of rare indigenous grapes like Limnio is the class leader of this demanding to farm ancient variety Of the incomer grapes their Chardonnay and Syrah are standouts Maronia is not known for wine today unless you are a classical scholar For todays Greeks this easternmost region near the Turkish border is a no mans land Tucked into this corner they until recently avoided the fickle home market out of survival instincts Not unlike the new generation of leading names such as Thymiopopoulos in Naoussa recognition has come from investing time and effort in exports The US Belgium Germany have been relatively quick to embrace their efforts Mother crisis has opened the Athens market quips Melina On the 10th anniversary they have to muster allocations Nice problems to have muses her brother Vassilis who manages vineyards and social media Using one vertical shoot pruning strict grape selection wholeberry fermentation pigeage with a good dose of finicky attention to detail has much to do with the distinctive character found in this rising star addresss seven labels There are no plans to grow in acreage There is much more to come from this unknown to all of us terroir adds Vassilis There is a saying in wine from conception of an idea to implementation it takes ten years This venture is on track
Floral slowly evolving to white flowers Ginger pit stone on the middle palate Smokey flint on the expansive honeycomb leesy dry finish Textured and sappy elegant and focused Chameleonlike changes surprising multifaceted twists and turns One would have to spend a small fortune to get this level of headturning Chardonnay elsewhere Accessible if decanted Satisfying now though will reward the patient Best 20152027
Wine: Kikones Chardonnay
Year: 2013
Link: http://www.kikones.com
Score: 18
Type: White
Variety: Chardonnay
Area: Thrace