Wine Tasting 14 - Nemea

 

Name: Nemea Dry Red Wine
Variety: Agiorgitiko
Region/Country: Aivalis Winery, Nemea, Greece
Vintage Year: 2022
Price: $9.99 (for a glass)

Shop Review: The bottle mentions that this is an unstabilized, unfiltered wine that is 12 months matured in French oak barrels. The website mentions that it has aromas of plum, cherry, ripe strawberry, violet, nuts, green tea, black pepper, cloves, vanilla, oak, damp earth, smoke, ink, and bitter chocolate. 

Wine Folly Text: 

Hot climates produce fruity reds, perfumed whites, and rich dessert wines. Nemean Agiorgitiko can be likened to a fruity Cabernet (pg 240). Agiorgitiko is Greece's most planted red and famous from the region of Nemea in Peloponnese, where the best wines are said to grow in the hills close to the commune of Koutsi. This is a medium red with notes of raspberry, black currant, plum sauce, nutmeg, and oregano (pg 242). With subtle flavors of nutmeg and cinnamon, this wine pairs wonderfully with roasted meats, tomato sauces, and spiced cuisines (pg 71). 

My Review: 🍷🍷🍷🍷 (out of 5)
For spring break, I went with a couple of friends to Athens, Greece. At one of the restaurants, I did a little wine tasting and tried to pair it with my meal. I asked the waiter if I could take a picture of the wine bottle, and he was extremely hesitant but allowed it. From smell alone, this wine seemed dry and tannic, with strong notes of plum. When I tasted it, I immediately noticed strong flavors of sour cherry, strawberry, and green tea. The finish included notes of smoky black pepper, vanilla, and nutmeg. I ordered a steak meal, and drinking the wine with this food made the wine taste smoother, bringing out the buttery finish. The food cut the tannins and made the cherry taste more pronounced. Overall, I really enjoyed this wine and was glad to have tasted it during my time in Greece!