Tetramythos Retsina Amphore Nature

Retsina is a Greek tradition where pine resin is added to a white wine base, and at Tetramythos in Patras the brothers Aristides and Stathis Spanos with winemaker Panagiotis Papagiannopoulos make an organic, natural version that shows the style at its best. The base is Roditis, a pink skinned native grape of the Peloponnese grown here in the cool hills above Patras, where altitude and sea influence keep acidity high. Fermentation and ageing take place in clay amphora, a porous, neutral vessel that allows slow oxygen exchange and a faintly oxidative, savoury character without the flavour of oak, while a small addition of Aleppo pine resin gives the wine its herbal, resinous signature. Made without additives, it keeps a fresh, juicy core rather than the heavy style that gave retsina a poor name. It pours pale straw. The nose is lemon, peach and pear with pine, mastic and chamomile. The palate is fresh and dry with a herbal, briny grip and a clean finish. Serve well chilled at 8 to 10 degrees.