Wine Tasting Video: Six Greek red wines


Lyrarakis Okto 2010, Crete (£10.95 for the 2009 Berry Bros & Rudd)
Like soft, sweet summer pudding in a glass, rounded and gentle with slightly squishy, lightly cooked redcurrant, blackcurrant and berry fruit and a chewy, (nicely) rustic iron-like finish. B+

Lyrarakis Syrah/Kotsifali 2009, Crete (N/A in the UK)
There’s a warm plummy dustiness here, along with notes of cherries and berries of all colours. Behind all that fruit, there’s a backbone of earthy tannins, again a note of iron, and a juicy, slightly meaty finish. Grows in the glass, so decant it if you can. S-

Lyrarakis Symbolo Grand Cuvée 2008, Crete (N/A in the UK – link is for 2005 vintage)
Has picked up some smoky vanilla notes from oak ageing, but these are in balance with the vigorous young plum and dark fruit flavours. Polished, grown up wine, but still shows its earthy roots, and finishes in bold and chewy style. S

Semeli Agiorgitiko Mountain Sun Red 2008, Peloponnese (was £9.95 The Wine Society)
Starts off well, with rounded juicy cherry and plum fruit and some dusty/rusty iron notes, but the tannins are just a little clunky. But tasty stuff. B

Skouras Saint George Nemea 2008 (was £11.95 The Wine Society)
Wild untamed style of wine, has notes of dusty herbs and iron to its dark cherry, damson and blackberry flavours, then finishes with warm, meaty aplomb – very Greek, very classy. S

Skouras Megas Oenos 2007, Peloponnese (was £24 The Wine Society)
I wish they hadn’t used Cabernet Sauvignon here. I like the generous juicy berry fruit, and warm herbiness, but the dry blackcurrant skin character of desiccated Cabernet adds unneeded tannin and rather spoils the party. B+

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