Description

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
One of the pioneers of the modern Greek wine revolution, Gaia Estate was established in 1994 by Greek winemakers Leon Karatsalos and Yiannis Paraskevopoulos. Operating from two different wineries in the important wine-growing regions of Nemea and Santorini, they have earned a reputation for making cutting-edge wines. Gaia’s main aim is to explore the boundaries and present the potential of the indigenous Greek grape varieties to wine enthusiasts worldwide.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
Agiorgitiko is a fragrant red wine grape native to Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula. This wine is produced from grapes of exceptional maturity that are cultivated in a low-yielding, non-irrigated vineyard on the hills surrounding the Nemea wine region. Here, the soil structure consists of a shallow clay layer of approximately 70 to 80cm that lies upon the lime soil. This type of clay retains humidity and releases it back to the vines when required, thus helping to naturally monitor the water stress in the vine, producing concentrated flavours in the berries. Notios in Greek means ‘The Southerner’.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
The grapes were hand-picked into 20-kilogram containers and chilled to 4°C before vinification. The grapes were then destemmed cold cold-soaked for 48 hours in the fermentation vats at low temperatures fluctuating between 8°C to 12°C. Fermentation took place with selected yeasts and lasted between seven to 10 days at controlled temperatures, which did not exceed 25°C. When malolactic conversion was complete, the young wine was cold-stabilised. The wine was made in an unoaked style to preserve the purity of fruit.

OUR TASTING NOTE:
Notios (‘The Southerner’) is a youthful style of wine with a refreshing, velvety texture and intense aromas of summer pudding fruits with spicy flavours of fresh herbs. Soft tannins underlie a well-structured palate, through to a delicious, vibrant finish.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Agiorgitiko 85%, Syrah 15%.