Domaine Skouras "St. George" Nemea Agiorgitiko 2024

Skouras's "St. George" Agiorgitiko is a terrific introduction to the indigenous Greek grape, with a bright, deep morello cherry-red color and a nose revealing aromas of blackberries, raspberries, ripe strawberries, violet and just a touch of tobacco. Exhibiting intense red plum, strawberry and raspberry fruit and sweet spices on the creamy, juicy palate, the wine is medium-bodied with elegant structure, balanced acidity and very ripe, elegant tannins. The chocolatey finish is moderately-long, dominated by red fruits and followed by sweet vanilla and black pepper.

100% Agiorgitiko, also known as Saint-George, hailing from the Nemea appellation within the Peloponnese region. The grapes are dry-farmed and sustainably grown on 20+ year old vines planted in clay soils at 650-meters above sea level. Fermented and macerated in stainless steel vats, it undergoes maloactic fermentation and is then aged 12 months in French barriques followed by another six in bottle.

Skouras Winery was started in 1986 in Pyrgela, Argos by Dijon-trained oenologist George Skouras, now a Greek winemaking legend. Working with both indigenous as well as international varieties, Skouras started producing very high quality Greek wines in the late 1980's. The first bottling of the Megas Oenos, his flagship wine launched in 1988 was the first wine in Greece to blend Agiorgitiko with Cabernet Sauvignon. Skouras Winery sources grapes from its own vineyards and from dedicated grape-growers in the region and is today at the forefront of Greek estates. Demand for these terroir-driven and estate-bottled wines is strong in both Greece and around the world.

Nemea has been regarded as a great winemaking region since the time of the ancient Greeks. Homer called this region Ampeloessa, which literally means "full of vines." Recent archeological excavations have revealed evidence of winemaking here over 3,500 years ago.