IGP Pella “Assyrtiko Barrique” (White) 2021

A 100% Assyrtiko aged in large old oak barrels. Bright orange, with lots of colour from the skins. A complex nose of candied lemon peel and honey, with a slight flinty character from the schist and granite soils. Intense notes of citron, grapefruit and orange, with honey and mineral hints with lots of body and crisp acidity. A long, smooth finish. Power and concentration. Exuberant, velvety and elegant.

This is one of the Domaine’s Barrique trio.Thomas and Meli were doing experiments of fermenting a few different wines in barrels. Thomas tasted the three whites, he began comparing the characters of the wines to famous women in Greek culture. And the concept was born…This label features Maria Callas, a famous soprano from Greece. Assyrtiko is originally from southern Greece but has been wonderfully developed in the North.

Vinification: Grapes from 15 year-old vines growing on clay and limestone soils are hand-harvested, gently pressed to avoid extraction of colour, and macerated on the skins for one week, the juice is then fed to cellar by gravity. The wine is fermented in barrel for 6 months on the lees, with no battonage, then aged 8-12 months in old oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered, with no added sulphites. Limited to just 2000 bottles.

Match it with: Grilled white fish, roasted squid or grilled octopus, seafood risotto.