From: Peloponnese, Greece
Blend: 80% Agiorgitiko, 20% Syrah
Taste: The 2018 Semeli Mountain Sun Red from Peloponnese, Greece, presents a vibrant ruby-violet hue. The aromatic bouquet is rich with fresh cherry, raspberry, and blackberry fruits, paired with a subtle spice that invites you in. The palate is balanced and inviting, with a round, velvety texture complemented by noble tannins. The aftertaste is persistent and engaging, you’ll crave the next sip! This blend of 80% Agiorgitiko and 20% Syrah, cultivated from the sloping limestone and clay vineyards of Nemea and Aigialia, respectively, marries the bountiful Greek sunshine with the skill of winemaker Yiannis Flerianos.
Pairing: This charming Greek red wine, with its fresh and fruity flavor profile, is an ideal companion to dishes cooked with tomato sauce, pasta, poultry, and grilled red meat with vegetables (check out the recipe below). Its versatility extends to pairing beautifully with a classic leg of lamb in garlic and oregano, a culinary delight that's as time-honored as the winemaking traditions of the Semeli Estate.
Easy Chicken Kapama
By Colu Henry
About. Step into the world of Greek wines, and you will be greeted by an ensemble of aromas and flavors that beautifully capture the essence of the land. A compelling example of this symphony of senses is the 2018 Semeli Mountain Sun Red from Peloponnese, Greece. With its vibrant ruby-violet hue and a rich aromatic bouquet combining fresh cherry, lively raspberry, and blackberry fruits with a touch of spice on the nose, this wine is a testament to the winemaking prowess of the Semeli Estate.
The Wine: A Radiant Symphony of Flavors
Each 2018 Semeli Mountain Sun Red sip invites you into a balanced palate adorned with a round and velvety texture, noble tannins, and a lingering aftertaste. This exquisite wine is a harmonious blend of 80% Agiorgitiko, Greece's most planted red grape, and 20% Syrah. Fermentation at very low temperatures allows the delicate fruit to emerge and shine, while aging in French oak barrels softens the wine, making it approachable in its youth yet capable of further aging and complexity in the bottle. All this meticulous attention to detail shows in the glass: the color is dark yet still lets in specks of light with a ruby hue, with lively cherry and raspberry evident in the nose and beautifully transposing to the palate.
The Winery: Semeli, A Beacon of Greek Winemaking
Founded in 1979, Semeli Estate is a tribute to winemaking excellence, combining the time-honored traditions of the vine with a forward-thinking approach. Its location on the slopes of the Nemea winemaking country, a unique Greek terroir, allows it to harness the sunny Mediterranean climate and extraordinary soil to produce wines of exceptional quality.
Nestled in the heart of a privately-owned hillside vineyard spanning 30 hectares, with another 90 hectares grown by affiliated local winegrowers, the Semeli Estate winery is a modern wonder. The winery reflects its holistic approach to winemaking, using a gravity-fed system that preserves the quality of the grapes by minimizing oxidation during the winemaking process. This method dates back to the pre-electric era and is considered the most natural way to produce wine.
Semeli Estate is a testament to Greece's winemaking advancements, its state-of-the-art facility producing up to two million bottles annually. This remarkable winery and its ambitious plans for expansion and organic cultivation continue to set new standards in Greek winemaking.
The Wine Region: Peloponnese, A Haven for Viticulture
The Peloponnese Peninsula is a viticultural paradise, offering an array of microclimates and terroirs that allow for the cultivation of both native and international grape varieties. With scenic landscapes dominated by mountains, rugged plateaus, and valleys, the region is one of the most viticulturally productive in Greece. The peninsula's wines, ranging from fresh, minerally whites to rich, age-worthy reds, mirror the diversity and richness of the region's terroir.
At Semeli Estate, they have perfectly tapped into this diverse terroir. The Agiorgitiko grapes used in the 2018 Mountain Sun Red are sourced from low-yielding vineyards on the slopes of Nemea at an altitude of 400-500m, while the Syrah comes from similar vineyards on the slopes of Aigialia but at a higher altitude of 700-800m. The unique soil and microclimate in these locations, coupled with low temperatures during winter and cool summer nights, allow for the slow ripening of the grapes, resulting in well-balanced wines.
