2024 Monemvasia Winery - Assyrtiko Laconia (750ml)

The 2023 Karamolegos Assyrtiko Feredini is a beautiful expression of Santorini's iconic grape variety, Assyrtiko. It opens with a fresh, vibrant nose, offering aromas of citrus zest, green apple, and a touch of saline minerality, evoking the island's volcanic soils. There's a subtle herbal note in the background, like wild thyme or oregano, adding complexity. On the palate, the wine is crisp and refreshing with a lively acidity that perfectly balances its medium body. Flavors of citrus and crunchy yellow fruits are complemented by a stony minerality typical of the region. The finish is long and precise, with a delightful tension between fruit and salinity, leaving a clean, refreshing aftertaste. Ideal with seafood or Mediterranean dishes, it also stands on its own as a refreshing aperitif.

The iconic Ameztoi Rubentis rosé is a field blend of the local, indigenous hondarrabi zuri and hondarrabi beltza varieties, grown on traditional trellises high on the slopes rising above Getaria, an ancient Basque fishing village on Spain’s rugged northern coast. In the 2000s, when almost all of the other local wineries gave up on the indigenous red hondarrabi beltza vines, the Ameztoi family retained their old vines, in turn, lending their rosé such exceptional vibrancy and complexity.

Rubentis, the region’s first pink wine, was inspired by the historic claret style wines which were once produced in the area long before the current global craze made rosé famous. The backbone of the blend comes from an old hondarrabi beltza vineyard planted in 1840, preserved by the Ameztoi family for generations. Ameztoi Rubentis is an authentic original, a wine that is often imitated but never replicated.

Vinification – After handpicking, hondarrabi zuri and hondarrabi beltza grapes are combined for destemming; the white and red grapes are worked together, not separately. After direct pressing, fermentation with indigenous yeast occurs in stainless steel at 15°C for 20 days. Towards the end of alcoholic fermentation, the tanks are closed to preserve the naturally occurring carbonation, which is the preferred style of Getaria. The tanks are then kept chilled to near freezing before bottling, which preserves the wine’s delicate, effervescent character and signature mousse. These attributes are unattainable through shortcuts such as force-carbonation, which Ameztoi has never employed.

-Importer notes

Furmint is the grape used to produce Hungary’s renowned sweet wine, Tokaji. When vinified dry, however, Furmint is capable of producing some very compelling white wine. This wine exhibits a bouquet of white flowers, grapefruit and pears. A refreshing texture gives way to expressive fruit on the palate and a lingering mineral finish. It will pair well with shellfish, white fishes, salads and picnic foods, but it also possesses the weight and profile to match with white meats and creamy pasta dishes as well. - Importer notes