Tetramythos, Mavro Kalavrytino Natur, Peloponnese, Greece, 2023

Overview of the Wine
Tetramythos vineyards overlook the Gulf of Corinth in northern Peloponnese. In 150 AD the geographer Pausanias referred to the local villages as ideal for the cultivation of grapes proving the region’s serious vinous history.

The beautifully wild vines are planted in a variety of different soils at altitudes between 650 to 1050 metres. These are true cool climate vineyards mostly north facing on the slopes of Mount Aroania, where breezes from the gulf of Corinth help produce fresh and balanced grapes.

The winery is owned by brothers Aristides and Stathis Spanos, together with the highly talented winemaker Panagiotis Papagiannopoulos. Today they farm organically, focusing on the native varieties of Roditis, Mavro Kalavrytino (the ski resort of Kalavryta is just up the road), Agiorgitiko and Malagousia. The Natur range are all made very naturally with a small dose of sulphur. 

Organic, Vegan.

Grape / Blend
Mavro Kalavrytino

Origin
Ano Diakopto, Patras, Peloponnese, Greece

Tasting Notes
There was a time not so long ago when red wines were supposed to be black, thunderously structured drinks and often sweet. Mavro just means black in Greek, and many grapes so named take their name seriously. The Mavro of Kalavrytino was one of these famously  intense black wines, but since Tetramythos is making wine for the more delicate and scrupulous modern palate, this version is handled gently, with a light press and short maceration. It’s still plenty intense, but it’s actually fun to drink. The nose gives pomegranate, black cherry, passionfruit, cinnamon toast, prosciutto and salt. The palate is bouncy, with passionfruit and mango tangerine. Then tannins sneak into the picture, delicate yet drying. Bitter herbs and tropic thunder fruit on the finish.

Product size: 750ml