Grapes – Moschofilero
Production and Maturation – Stainless steel tanks
Tasted by Nick Stokes – 14th February 2014
There were floral aromas of rose and honeysuckle emanating from this pale white, close your eyes and you were in a typical English garden on a summer’s eve. Taking a sip, after a good swirl, and the taste buds came to life with apricot, lime and green apple. This 11.5% dry white had decent body and finish. I would recommend drinking with meze fish dishes, but in particular grilled octopus. Good for another year or two.
The wine has been made with 85% free run and first press juice and 15% second press juice, while this seems to have affected the Semeli Feast Red it certainly hasn’t here. There is much acclaim for this wine as can be seen below.
Learn more about the pink grape Moschofilero (pro-nounced Moss – co – fee – la – ro) from the winemaker George Skouras
The Semeli Winery was started in 1979 by Anne (the daughter of the managing director of the Piraeus Bank) and George Kokotos. The winery merged with Mantinia, Nasiakos Winery. The wine maker is the experienced local oenologist Leonidas Nasiakos. In 2000 Semeli built a new state of the art-winery called Domaine Helios.
Reviews
“This is a musky, perfumed, dry white with hints of pear and rose petal, crunchy acidity and a tangy, seafoood-friendly finish. A great introdcution to an indigenous grape variety.” Tim Atkin 02/06/13
“Good Greek wines remain a rarity but this lush, wonderfully aromatic white, made from moschofilero, bursts with exotic, musky, grapey, floral fruit, complete with an enticing spicy finish.” Jane MacQuitty in The Times 16/11/13
“As its name suggests, this is a great food wine from a producer founded in 1979. It is made from the indigenous Moschofilero grape common in this part of Greece. It’s vibrant, fresh and has fine intensity, laden with ripe yet elegant exotic fruits and musky spice. A long finish too.” Decanter, March 2014
Tom Cannavan’s Review 22/06/13
Suppliers – Oddbins £8.50
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