The colour is deep ruby and cloudy. The nose reveals some of the imperfections typical of natural wines. In the mouth acidic and drying. The aftertaste is rather short. With some air, both aroma and taste improve, but overall this is not a very pleasant wine, as it is often the case with red natural wines (according to my experience so far).
Synodos is the result of a field blend of white and red grapes: Vostilidi (approx. 15%) and Mavrodafni (approx. 85%). Both grapes are organically grown on ungrafted vines (the French call them franc de pied, an expression which indicates that the vines have not been grafted onto American rootstocks).
In the Greek island of Kefalonia, where this red wine is made, field blend is a tradition: the wine is made from grapes harvested and fermented together from a vineyard planted to multiple grape varieties. The blend is therefore determined by what’s planted in the “field”, not by the winemaker.
Field blends can be found all-over the world, but they are increasingly rare. These days winemakers prefer to focus on the grapes, or even the clones, that grow best in each specific parcel of a vineyard, and define the ideal moment to harvest each parcel individually. The winemaker will then vinify each parcel separately and determine which lots and in which proportion to blend them together. This process gives winemakers much more control over the final product.
Synodos is made by Sklavos, a winery I visited in 2017 while spending part of my summer holidays in Kefalonia. It has been one of the most memorable visits I ever did. Sklavos is a very passionate winemaker. I really enjoyed talking and tasting (often directly from the barrel) with him.
Six years ago, for this bottle I paid 9 EUR at the winery. Nowadays, this wine sells for some 20 EUR on the internet. Six years ago at the winery I found this wine very good. Nowadays at home I find it mediocre.
Country: Greece
Region: Kefalonia
Grapes: Vostilidi, Mavrodafn
Type: Red
Vintage: 2016
Producer: Sklavos
Price range: Economic (<15 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 2/5