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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