Greek wines from female winemakers at Maltby and Greek
Website: https://www.maltbyandgreek.com/
A chance encounter led to a great tasting. I was in Bermondsey exploring Spa Terminus, where many wholesale businesses in the railway arches open their doors to consumers on Friday and Saturday. And I went into Maltby and Greek. They had a wine tasting on, focusing on female winemakers that they represent from Greece. So I tasted! And these are my notes. [Thanks Jorge for taking such good care of us.]
The winemakers:
- Katerina Bosinakis (Bosinakis Winery)
- Sosanna Katsikosta (Acheon Winery)
- Theodora Rouvalis (Rouvalis Wines)
Rouvalis
Website: https://www.rouvaliswinery.gr/en/
Rouvalis Asprolithi 2024 Patra, Peloponnese, Greece
This is Roditis, and it’s great value for money.Textured, very fine with a hint of mint and some fine spiciness. There’s some pear and melon with fine grained structure. Very fine. 93/100
Rouvalis Syracho 2022 Slopes of Aigialeia, Peloponnese, Greece
A blend of Roditis and Viognier. This is fresh and expressive with nice texture and weight. Lovely pear with a hint of melon and nice citrus drive. There’s a mineral twist here with great balance. There’s a subtly salty twist, finishing with apricot. 94/100 (this was the wine I’d bought earlier before I realised there was a tasting on)
Rouvalis Assyrtiko 2024 Slopes of Aigialeia, Peloponnese, Greece
Stainless steel, aged on lees. Very fine and mineral with some mint and a hint of wood spice/pine (even no there is not oak here) with real precision and a hint of wet clay and earth. So precise and mineral with lovely purity. 94/100
Rouvalis Roditis Single Vineyard 2022 Slopes of Aigialeia, Peloponnese, Greece
Complex, textured, spicy and mineral with wood spice and pine as well as rich pear and peach fruit. Complex, layered and bold with a warm spicy finish. 94/100
Rouvalis Chardonnay Single Vineyard 2023 Slopes of Aigialeia, Peloponnese, Greece
I was really impressed with this, even though my bias is towards Greek varieties in Greece. Complex layered and generous with white peach and pear fruit. Broad and expressive with a nice citrus flourish. Bold and fruit driven with such good balance. 94/100
Rouvalis Lagorthi 2022 Slopes of Aigialeia, Peloponnese, Greece
This is a rare variety, skin fermented and aged in barrels and clay. Full gold colour. Bold, rich, pithy, some structure and freshness here. Citrus, pear, minerals. Lovely. 93/100
Rouvalis Tsigello 2024 Slopes of Aigialeia, Peloponnese, Greece
Aged in clay. Tsigello is another name for Mavrodaphne, which can’t appear on the label because it is only legally allowed for sweet wines here. Light, supple, sweetly fruited, ripe cherry and strawberries, with a slight stewed strawberry character. Nice stony edge with a sense of harmony. Great value. 93/100
Rouvalis Tsigello Single Vineyard Daphnes 2022 Slopes of Aigialeia, Peloponnese, Greece
13% alcoghol. Tsigello is the variety here (aka Mavrodaphne), aged in barrels and clay. This is textural and rich with a spicy frame to the fruit. Ripe but balanced with a fine spicy edge to the fruit. Cherries, plums and strawberries. Lovely intensity and focus with nice depth, showing sleek fruit but there’s also freshness. 94/100
Bosinakis
Bosinakis Moschifolero 2024 Mantinia, Peloponnese, Greece
Fresh, lively, and juicy with bright citrus and pear fruit as well as some table grape. This is quite delicate and fruit driven with lovely juiciness. 92/100
Bosinakis Pet Nat Rosé Moschofilero 2024 Mantinia, Peloponnese, Greece
Very pale pink with real texture and yeasty density showing smooth pear and peach fruit. Slight saltiness here. Very textural. 92/100
Bosinakis Ieria Moschofilero Rosé 2024 Mantinia, Peloponnese, Greece
Fresh fruity and appealing with lovely cherry and aniseed notes, showing a nice texture and weight. 90/100
Acheon
Website: https://www.acheonwinery.gr/en/
Acheon Roditis Fox Skin Contact Single Vineyard 2022 Slopes of Aigialeia, Peloponnese, Greece
Bold and rich with smooth pear and peach fruit and some nice mineral notes. Sleek with lovely texture. Very stylish. 91/100
Acheon Laura Nobile Single Vineyard 2019 Slopes of Aigialeia, Peloponnese, Greece
Incense and spice with herbs and warm berry fruits. Very stylish and textural with nice focus. Traditional. 90/100
Archeon Sideritis In Amphorea Single Vineyard 2024 Slopes of Aigialeia, Peloponnese, Greece
30% amphora. Fruity, bright and stony apple pear and a hint of melon. Lovely depth and fruit focus. 90/100
