Muscat de Limnos 2007

The island of Limnos is a place that folks rarely think of when they make their way to their neighborhood wine shop.  That’s not to say that it doesn’t have plenty of wine-making cred.  The island, and it’s wines, are present in the Iliad: a welcome addition, it is said, to the cups of the Argives.  With cooler temperatures than mainland Greece and plenty of strong prevailing winds, Limnos is an excellent place to raise expressive, aromatic, Moscatel, (aka Muscat of Alexandria).

Though Limnos has a reputation for making dry wines from it’s Moscatel, a result of the cooler temperatures, the island’s sweet wines are equally compelling.  The entry-level dessert wine from Limnos Wines, located in the capital of Myrina, is an outstanding introduction to the island’s wines.

In the glass the wine is a lambent, honeyed-orange.  Aromas of thyme, honey, and green Darjeeling abound.  The palate leads with earthy tones of spiced-honey and herbed-tea, though it finishes with a surprisingly refreshing hint of honeydew melon.

I really love this wine.  On top of being flat-out delicious, it is impressively complex given it’s $15.99 price tag.  Whether you’re hankering for something sweet, or looking to try something Greek, this wine is a fantastic way to spend an evening.  Pair it with some loukamathes and you’ll have everything you need to feel as though you been transported to the Greek isles, if only for an evening.

J.

Tags: dessert wine, greece, limnos, limnos wines, moscatel, muscat de limnos, muscat of alexandria, night train
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Akyles 2007

At first glance, the wines of Vinedos de Ithaca (VdI) seem out of place.  Though they’re Spanish in origin, the labels and names of the wines carry a Greek theme.  The winery’s flagship line is named for clever Odysseus, and VdI’s dessert wine for Odysseus’ faithful wife Penelope.  The vineyard’s younger vines are turned into Akyles, the winery’s fresh, vibrant counterpart to the darkly powerful Odysseus.

Akyles pours a dark, extracted purple: nearly black.  It’s full of bright, punguent aromas of blackberries and redcurrants.  The palate leads with juicy berry-fruit notes, but ultimately suggests the sharp red fruits one expects from younger-vine Garnacha.  The hot Catalan sun and the Priorat’s slate-rich soils have gifted VdI with wonderfully focused fruit, and the winery’s young winemaker, Sylvia Puig, has succeeded in crafting a beautifully balanced and executed wine.

So if you’re looking for a gift for that lover of epic Greek poetry, or perhaps that friend who just can’t live without some northern Spanish red, this is the wine for you.  Just one sip of this and you’ll have all the strength you need to sail the “wine-dark sea” and slay Trojans.

J.

Tags: akyles, garnacha, greece, odysseus, priorat, spain, sylvia puig, vinedos de ithaca
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