Fresh nose of green apple, lime and melon. In the mouth it displays a pronounced acidity and citrusy flavours. The finish is a bit prickly, but pleasant. The aftertaste is longer than most wines I tasted while spending this year summer holiday in Crete.
Theon Dora White is made following organic standards from the traditional Cretan grape varieties Vidiano (50%), Thrapsathiri (30%) and Vilana (20%). I paid 10 EUR directly at Stilianou Winery.
From the first firm handshake and the humble attitude, you can sense that Ioannis Stilianou is very serious about his craft. Ioannis does all the work himself: in the field attending the vines and in the winery making the wine.
The wine production is limited to 20’000 bottles a year. Stilianou not only makes praiseworthy wines, without compromising with international grape varieties, he also produces excellent olive oil.
Besides the unique Kotsifali naturally sweet red wine, the winery also makes a rosé and a red, both 50% Kotsifali and 50% Mantilari. The red, named “Theon Gi”, sells for 13 EUR at the winery. Before release it matures for two years in French oak barrels and rests for another six years in the bottle at the winery. It therefore reaches the consumer eight years after the vintage.
I tasted a bottle of 2010. The high percentage of Mantilari gives the wine a pretty wild character. From the nose, where leather dominates, to the mouth that is left dry by the pronounced tannins.
Country: Greece
Region: Crete
Grapes: Vidiano, Thrapsathiri, Vilana
Type: White
Vintage: 2017
Producer: Stilianou Winery
Price range: Medium (15-30 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 3/5