Gaia 'Monograph' Agiorgitiko

Agiorgitiko from an owned vineyard at Koutsi, up in the hills around Nemea. Red cherry and pomegranate with a butterscotch note behind, medium bodied, soft tannin, fruity finish. Easy company, and it takes a light chill.

The fruit comes from an owned vineyard in the commune of Koutsi, on the semi mountainous hills around Nemea. The site sits between 450 and 550 metres on steep slopes that drain hard and erode easily. A shallow clay layer lies over limestone mother rock, and the vines are around 40 years old.

Yields are held under a strict limit and the pruning is severe, which is how a generous variety keeps its shape. Fermentation and ageing both happen in stainless steel. No oak is used, so the fruit and the soft tannin do all the talking.

Gai'a was founded in 1994 by Leon Karatsalos and the winemaker Yiannis Paraskevopoulos, to make serious wine from Greek varieties. Serve it cool, around 10 to 12 degrees. It handles spice and red meat, and it is good on its own before dinner.