On the nose at first meaty, but after a while some cherries and menthol notes come forward. In the mouth smooth and well balanced. The finish leans toward dry fruits. The aftertaste is pleasant, although it doesn’t last very long.
This red wine that matures for one year in French oak is produced under the Peza denomination. According to the PDO tradition, it is made with 80% Kotsifali and 20% Mantilari. Both grape varieties are typical of Crete.
Kotsifali is a delicate grape variety, well equipped with aromas and sugar, but lacking anthocyanins. Mantilari has a more wild character, but with strong color, pronounced tannins and moderate acidity. Therefore, as is the case with many traditional European blends, the two grape varieties complement each other.
Peza is one of the five PDO of Crete, the other four being: Dafnes, Archanes, Sitia and Handakas-Candia.
According to archeological findings, Crete has an history of systematic vine cultivation that goes back 4000 years. Moreover, the oldest wine-press has been discovered in Crete and date back some 3500 years.
The Minoan civilization, which flourished from about 2600 to 1600 BC in Crete, was one of the first civilizations to enjoy the exhilarating product of fermented grapes.
The need of the Romans for wine was very extensive and under their rule the plains and hills of Crete were over time turned into vast vineyards.
Cretan winemaking and exports thrived under the Venetian, who ruled over the island for more than four centuries, starting from the early 13th Century. In this period the Malvasia based sweet wines were especially appreciated internationally.
Towards the end of the 17th Century Crete was conquered by the Ottomans and for the next two centuries the wine production went into decline. A decline from which it is still recovering.
I got this bottle for 17.70 EUR directly at the winery. The first vintage of Domain Paterianakis was produced in 1997, the same year the winery started its activities.
Nowadays all wines are certified organically and the winery is experimenting with a white Vidiano and a red Kotsifali all-natural, without anything neither added nor taken out. Both are named “3.14” after the Archimedes’ constant “Pi”. I tasted them while visiting the winery and found the outcome with the white interesting, although the aroma of peach and apricot, typical of the Vidiano grape, in this all-natural version is strongly dominated by a scent of banana. At the winery it sells for 12.50 EUR.
Country: Greece
Region: Crete
Grapes: Kotsifali, Mantilari
Type: Red
Vintage: 2014
Producer: Domaine Paterianakis
Price range: Medium (15-30 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 3/5