Ktima Tselepos Driopi Reserve 2017 2022

Yiannis Tselepos trained in oenology in Burgundy before returning to Greece to establish his estate in Arcadia, and that Burgundian eye shapes his reds. Driopi is his project in Neméa, the leading red appellation of the Peloponnese, where the native Agiorgitiko grape grows at altitude on limestone and clay soils. Height brings cool nights and a wide diurnal range, so the grapes ripen slowly and hold their acidity and aromatic detail. Agiorgitiko gives soft tannins, deep colour and generous red and black fruit, and the Reserve selection is built from riper, more concentrated fruit. Twelve months in French oak adds structure and a frame of cedar and spice, the barrel's slow oxygen exchange softening the tannins and knitting the fruit together. The wine is deep ruby, with ripe plum, blackberry and red cherry, dried Mediterranean herbs, leather and a savoury, earthy undertone. The palate is medium to full bodied, smooth and balanced, with fine tannins and a long, herb-tinged finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees in a standard glass with roast lamb, grilled meats or tomato-rich stews.