94 Points: "Here’s a red to buy by the case-one case for this summer, as it’s light enough to chill, and another for the cellar, as this is structured enough to keep. It comes off of Angelos Iatridis’s younger vines, growing in a sandy 23-acre vineyard close to his winery. Cold-soaked and fermented in stainless-steel tanks, then aged in white-toasted barrels for one year and in bottle for another, it’s bright and fresh, with no perceptible wood influence to get in the way of the fruit. That fruit is cherry-red and layered with spice, notes of wild herbs
and fennel fronds accenting its cool feel, but it’s the acidity that gives the wine its tautness and precision, an energy that makes it ready to enliven the evening." – Wine and Spirits (August 2019)
92 Points: "Appealing nose of spice with strawberry accents. Light bodied palate with juicy cherry and a long, cranberry finish." – Decanter, (DWWA 2019) (May 2019)
90 Points: "The 2016
Xinomavro Hedgehog Vineyard was aged for 12 months in an equal mixture of used and new French barriques. It comes in at 13.6% alcohol. This seems riper than the 2015-which is not a synonym for saying "better," but I suspect in the long run this will be better. Right at the moment, neither is ready and they were both a little hard to read when I originally received them (only the 2016 is here, the new release). Just lovely, this silky Xinomavro is perfectly balanced, fresh and crisp. It finishes tight and lingers. It is a perfect food wine but not quite ready. The world won't end if you pop it open, but you'd be better off coming back around 2021, both to allow tannins to moderate and for the fruit to become more expressive. I will say that, with about two hours open, it started to show sweeter and more expressive fruit. Graceful and precise, this is another fine bargain from Alpha Estate in this brand." – Mark Squires, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (April 2019)
Best Buy: "The No. 1 bottle in our tasting was a 2016 Alpha Estate xinomavro from the Hedgehog Vineyard in Amyndeon, in the northern Greek region of Macedonia. We found the wine to be spicy, savory, floral and complex, with all the elements in balance. At $23, this wine was our best value in a tasting of overall excellent values." – New York Times ★★★½ $23 Pale cherry color, lively and balanced, with spicy, complex floral and savory flavors.
FROM THE WINERY
Variety Composition: Xinomavro 100%.
Region / Location / Vineyard: Amyndeon plateau. Amyndeon viticulture zone. North-western Macedonia. "Hedgehog" sub-region. 690m altitude, with northern exposure, facing lake Petron and mount Voras. 69ha of Linear, privately owned vineyard situated at an altitude of 620-710 m.
Vinification Method & Ageing: Destemming, no crushing, cold soak - skin contact,
alcoholic fermentation at gradual increasing temperatures, maintenance of wine "sur lies" for eight months with regular stirring. Twelve months in French oak barrel medium grain, white toasting and twelve months in the bottle.
Tasting Characteristics: Bright purple-red color. Complex, typical bouquet of small berries red fruits, leather and spices (vanilla, pepper, clove), with hints of ripe blackberry. Full mouth, rounded tannins, balanced acidity and well integrated wood tones. Long aftertaste with intense quince aroma.
Harmony: Perfect match with juicy red barbecued meats, spicy sausages, red baked peppers in olive oil, stew rabbit, light spicy fool
body cheeses.
Best served at 16-18 C. (61-64 F).
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