On the Road with the Grape Guy

Cyprus Trip 2024 – the winery visits (part 2)

Details

Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

Cyprus wine comes to life … I have written a little and talked a lot more about Cyprus wines in the last year (facebook / instagram – podcast 1 – podcast 2 – video review – with more on the way). Now, it’s time to look at some of these wines and see where Cyprus is going and the wines you should be excited about tasting – whenever and wherever possible.

Back in February 2024, I got a chance to visit Cyprus. What an eye-opening experience that was. I got a chance to taste some amazing wines and learn all about the history and culture of this island. What I thought I knew, I didn’t – and what I didn’t know, a lot, I learned. One thing is for certain – if ever I get a chance to go, again, or taste, Cypriot wines – I will definitely do it – and I recommend you do the same.

Upon my return home … I recorded a few video wine reviews (the one linked above was recorded in Cyprus); and I would like to send out a big thank you to the Kolonaki Group, who facilitated getting these wines into Canada for me; because a winery can’t just send wine into Ontario to a consumer or reviewer (don’t get me started) … check out Kolonaki’s list of Cypriot wines (search Cyprus).

And below, you can check out mine … from the wineries I visited:

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DAY TWO

Tsiakkas 2021 Vamvakada     
(Maratheftiko)    
A fruit forward wine loaded with sweet cherries and red plum, floral, elegant, really pretty - plus there’s good tannin structure.  (****+)

Tsiakkas 2021 Yiannoudin
(Yiannoudi)
Blackberry, black raspberry, and subtle spices combine with some hints of leather. Tasty and tantalizing with good tannin structure that eventually mellows out: heftier wine than expected, but those tannins silken with time in glass.  (****+)

Tsiakkas 2023 Xynisteri
(Xynisteri 98% / Malaga 2%)
Two months on lees gives this wine a nice texture and flavour: floral and citrus, with gentle acidity and a touch of salinity.  (*** ½+)

Tsiakkas 2022 Paradois - Ambassador Line
(Xynisteri)
Described by the winemakers as: "an orange wine without you paying for the winemakers mistakes". 90 days of skin contact with Commadaria skins and Xynisteri must; 9 months on lees ... with no pressing, to avoid tannins. It's an interesting wine with subtle tannins and good acidity, comes across with notes of grilled pineapple and grilled peach. One of the more interesting "orange wines" I've tasted (in a good way).  (*** ½+)

Tsiakkas 2022 Exelisis - Ambassador Line
(Sauvignon Blanc 30% / Chardonnay 10% / Promara 40% / Xynisteri 20%)
A real hodge-podge of a blend that delivers spicy and fruity notes: spiced tangerine, even something slightly grassy, with some green pear backing - layered and lovely.  (*** ½+)

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Kyperounda 2021 Epos Red (high altitude)
(Syrah / Cabernet Sauvignon 50 each)
To preserve the fruitiness and juiciness of this wine it spends 12 months in barrique and 6 more months in 600L barrels: fresh fruit shows through, with a  juicy, spicy and white pepper character. Fruits come across as blackberry and cassis, with some graphite mixed in. It has a freshness propelled by its good acidity.  (****)

Kyperounda 2022 Petritis
(Xynisteri)
20% of this wine sees oak maturation; but starts in stainless steel for the fermentation process and then rests on lees 6 months. Citrus notes with good acidity, some grapefruit rind slips in and so does a subtle floral notes.  (*** ½)

Kyperounda 2022 Epos White (high altitude)
(Chardonnay)
With 9 months ageing in bottle and two years in 300L barrels there is surprisingly still a brightness to this wine which comes across as super young.  (*** ½)

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DAY FOUR

Starts with a cool OLD vs NEW vines Xynesteri tasting …

Vasilikon 2022 A - Selection
(Xynisteri)    
From the Arodes area. These are 102 yr old vines (planted in 1920). Fresh and lively, with notes of Maldon salt and pineapple; mouth filling with a medium length finish.  (****+)

Vasilikon 2022 Single Vineyard
(Xynisteri)
These vines were planted in 1965, just outside the winery: good acidity, with salty, pineapple, and a creamy texture, but with a punchy finish.  (****+)

Vasilikon 2022 K - Selection
(Xynisteri)
From the Kathikas area. These are 65-year-old vines (planted in 1967): pineapple, peach, but still with those saline notes and non-aggressive acidity.  (****)

Vasilikon 2023 Xinisteri
There's a saline quality that goes start to finish; slightly citrusy with gentle acidity, and a medium length finish. (*** ½)

Vasilikon 2022 I - Selection
(Xynisteri)
From the Inia area; the youngest vines in this range at only 12 years old (planted in 2010) - this is basic Xynisteri: floral, fresh, with notes of lime pith. (*** ½)

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Nelion Winery 2022 2 Rizes
(Xynisteri)
Name means 2 roots. The grapes for this wine come from a blend of vineyards and is named for the river that brings life to the vines: refreshing and pretty with stone fruit and floral notes.  (*** ½+)

Nelion Winery 2020 Ofthalmo
Started making this wine back in 2006. It spends 12 month in older barrels. It's easy drinking with cherry and blueberry notes: quite quaffable, but also quite acidic – it’s a chill and enjoy type of red.  (*** ½+)

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ADDITIONAL PHOTOS ...

Good morning Cyprus ...

On the hills of Tsiakkas

At 1500m - highest vineyard on Cyprus. Below it's 20C, up here, it's 3C

Staring down the Mayor? Glass 4 ... Still not sure what I was drinking

 Beautiful blue water off the coast of Cyprus - which is quite nice in February

Cyprus Trip 2024 – the winery visits (part 1)

Details

Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

Cyprus wine comes to life … I have written a little and talked a lot more about Cyprus wines in the last year (facebook / instagram – podcast 1 – podcast 2 – video review – with more on the way). Now, it’s time to look at some of these wines and see where Cyprus is going and the wines you should be excited about tasting – whenever and wherever possible.

Back in February 2024, I got a chance to visit Cyprus. What an eye-opening experience that was. I got a chance to taste some amazing wines and learn all about the history and culture of this island. What I thought I knew, I didn’t – and what I didn’t know, a lot, I learned. One thing is for certain – if ever I get a chance to go, again, or taste, Cypriot wines – I will definitely do it – and I recommend you do the same.

Upon my return home … I recorded a few video wine reviews (the one linked above was recorded in Cyprus); and I would like to send out a big thank you to the Kolonaki Group, who facilitated getting these wines into Canada for me; because a winery can’t just send wine into Ontario to a consumer or reviewer (don’t get me started) … check out Kolonaki’s list of Cypriot wines (search Cyprus).

And below, you can check out mine … from the wineries I visited:

__________________________________________

DAY ONE
(Top Wines from Visited Wineries)

Dafermou 2021 Selection - Yiannoudi
Grapes taken from high altitude vineyards (1100m). The wine spends 12 months in 300L French oak and is also fermented in wood. Soft and elegant, pretty, every with nice dark fruit character, subtly-smoky, cassis and black cherry with backing notes of vanilla and graphite.  (****)

Dafermou 2020 Selection - Yiannoudi    
This is a bit of an aged Yiannoudi, giving it cherry, vanilla, softened tannins and a nice finish. Looking forward to other wines from this grape.  (****)

Dafermou 2023 Selection - Assyrtiko    
Nice mouth feel with moments of saltiness and a rich texture in the mouth; lemon zest helps contribute to the lengthy finish.  (*** ½+)

Dafermou 2022 Selection Red
(Syrah 70% / Malbec 30%)
Smoky and soft with an easiness about it. Pepper and dark fruit mix it up while keeping everything interesting and together.  (*** ½+)

Dafermou 2023 Selection White
(Xynisteri 70% / Sauv Blanc 30%)
Nice Sauvignon Blanc notes adds acidity to the grape known for not having any (Xynisteri), the name literally means "low/without acidity", but there's also a mineral character and soft finish. Proves that the blend is better than the sum of its parts.  (*** ½)

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Zambartas 2021 Margelina - Single Vineyard
(Field Blend - 80% Mavro / Xynesteri (w) / Kanella (w) / Marathetiko / Yianoudi / Ofthalmo)
Bright with good acidity and plenty of cherry notes. Light in both colour and body. Very fresh. Good display of tannins.  (****)

Zambartas 2022 Maratheftiko
Name of this grape means "trickster" and it resides in (maybe) 2-3% of vineyards: Big, ripe cherry, smoky-vanilla, and even has developed some heft; yet comes across fresh. Another grape I want to see more from.  (****)

Zambartas 2022 Promara
There's a softness and juiciness to this wine, the acidity seems quite pleasant - not too harsh. It is a grape/wine that requires some doctoring in the acid department; usually needing up to .5 to 1.0 g; in addition to what it creates naturally. It is a rarely made wine on its own. (*** ½)

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DAY THREE
(A lean day for wines)

Vlassides 2019 Eddial - sparkling
(Chardonnay 60% / Sauvignon Blanc 40%)
Traditional method sparkling spends 34/36 months on less. Hints of creaminess, with green apple crispness. Has 6.5g/L - on the cusp of extra brut.  (*** ½)

Vlassides 2023 Grifos 2    
(Xynisteri 85% / Sauvignon Blanc 15%)
Fresh, clean and pleasant with decent acidity; grassy with citrus notes.  (*** ½)

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Argyrides 2018 Maratheftiko
Soft, and dare I say, sexy. Fresh with lovely dark fruit, black cherry, subtle smoke, good acidity, and gentle tannins.  (****+)

Argyrides 2023 Viognier
This wine was bottled 6 days ago and can only get better. Spends time in stainless and on lees 3 months: pleasantly aromatic, with tropical notes and nice texture.  (*** ½+)

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DAY FIVE
(Single winery visit today)

Marathasa 2021 Amarantos (eternal flower)
(Yiannoudi)
Spends 12 months in mature barrels developing floral and spicy notes; lovely dark fruit, good acidity, and on the finish tannins kick in with some real bite.  (****+)

Marathasa 2021 Marathos (white fennel)    
(Syrah)    
Syrah that grows at 1080m in a single vineyard, and spends 12 months in oak (20% American - 20/80 new-to-used ratio): spicy and peppery with a touch of oak on the palate and lots of dark berries.  (****)

Marathasa 2023 Rosé
(Primitivo 60 / Syrah 40)
3 different soil types – floral and cherry, there's even a little bitter note; plus some grit on the finish which helps to balance this wine nicely.  (*** ½+)

Marathasa 2022 Anelikou    
(Sauvignon Blanc)
Single vineyard Savvy B that grows in a theatre shaped vineyard at 1000-1140m - the resulting wine is fresh, soft and aromatic. (*** ½+)

Marathasa 2022 Athassi (means almond)
(Xynesteri)
Grapes come from 3 plots: 2 south / 1 east facing: it's floral, peach and mineral in character; acidity drops a little, but it is good wine for sitting and sipping on a sunny afternoon.  (*** ½)

Marathasa 2023 Moschofilero
A rare grape for the island - aromatically it's floral and another fine sipper.  (*** ½)

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ADDITIONAL PHOTOS ...

 Lunchtime with a bottle of Vlassides Shiraz

 Drinking with the Mayor (still don't know what was in that glass)

Walking the town ...

Breakfast companion - nice start to the day.