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2019 Sigalas Santorini Assyrtiko (750ml)

Assyrtiko from Santorini, Greece

B-21 Top Recommendation
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B-21's move to Tarpon Springs in 1966 discovered a significant Greek settlement. They began migrating to our coastal town at the turn of the 20th century to harvest sponge, a Greek island heritage dating back to the ancient Egyptians five thousand years ago. A sponge blight in the Mediterranean had challenged the world's supply. Sitting on the continental shelf off western Florida was a vast virgin sponge forest. Only those of the Dodecanese Islands had the harvesting skills, and so they came. Within twenty years, Tarpon Springs had become "The Sponge Capital of the World." Spongers in from sea, Ouzo and Retsina poured at the local tavernas.

Today, a new generation of inspired Greeks have created world demand from another natural resource. These winemakers have fashioned never heard of ancient indigenous varietals from the Greek mainland and the Aegean into a wine revolution. Demand for Greek whites is soaring, wines such as Malagousia, Moschofilero and Assyrtiko. Malagousia is a particularly aromatic grape with exotic fruits, citrus, jasmine and mint with a viscous palate and medium acidity. Moschofilero is a light pink-skinned grape that produces lively, crisp wines with intense fragrances. Assyrtiko is native to the Aegean Islands and in particular Santorini. Assyrtiko is amoung the great white wines of the world, with excellent acidity, minerality and superb length. All super wines we highly recommend – you'll soak 'em up like a sponge.

93WA

The 2019 Santorini Assyrtiko, the flagship 100% Assyrtiko, is unoaked, dry (1.5 grams of residual sugar, 6.4 of total acidity and a pH of 3.08) and comes in at 14% alcohol. It was bottled in November 2019, sourced from vines over 70 years in age, all non-grafted. Solid in the mid-palate but without the very ripe nuances that some bigger wines on Santorini can acquire, this has fine structure to support the fruit and a great finish. The clean, dry and serious finish is lovely. It seems elegant and a bit understated, perfectly crafted and balanced—in other words, pretty typical. As is also typical, it always shows better the next day. This wine just has too much going on to show well in its youth on first pour. It looks splendid and able to develop over some years. It should improve, not just hold. I tend to think this will eventually overtake the 2018 Kavalieros this issue (a late release), but that is certainly more evolved and showing better today.

93 points, Mark Squires, Wine Advocate (Issue # 249 - Jun 2020)

$37.98

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2019 Sigalas Am Assyrtiko / Monemvasia (750ml)

Assyrtiko from Santorini, Greece

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

B-21's move to Tarpon Springs in 1966 discovered a significant Greek settlement. They began migrating to our coastal town at the turn of the 20th century to harvest sponge, a Greek island heritage dating back to the ancient Egyptians five thousand years ago. A sponge blight in the Mediterranean had challenged the world's supply. Sitting on the continental shelf off western Florida was a vast virgin sponge forest. Only those of the Dodecanese Islands had the harvesting skills, and so they came. Within twenty years, Tarpon Springs had become "The Sponge Capital of the World." Spongers in from sea, Ouzo and Retsina poured at the local tavernas.

Today, a new generation of inspired Greeks have created world demand from another natural resource. These winemakers have fashioned never heard of ancient indigenous varietals from the Greek mainland and the Aegean into a wine revolution. Demand for Greek whites is soaring, wines such as Malagousia, Moschofilero and Assyrtiko. Malagousia is a particularly aromatic grape with exotic fruits, citrus, jasmine and mint with a viscous palate and medium acidity. Moschofilero is a light pink-skinned grape that produces lively, crisp wines with intense fragrances. Assyrtiko is native to the Aegean Islands and in particular Santorini. Assyrtiko is amoung the great white wines of the world, with excellent acidity, minerality and superb length. All super wines we highly recommend – you'll soak 'em up like a sponge.

89WA

The 2019 Am Assyrtiko / Monemvasia is an equal blend, unoaked and coming in at 14.5% alcohol. Grapes for this wine are sourced from both Santorini and the island of Paros (where Monemvasia is a signature grape). This new brand wasn't so exciting last year, but this might be the year it rounds into form. It's great now, and it has some chance to improve. Sensually textured, long on the finish and nicely concentrated, this is ripe and fills the mouth beautifully. It tastes great. It is well structured too. How well will it age? There is no track record, but the grapes can certainly age a bit. Let's be cautious. It's delicious now. That's a hint.

89 points, Mark Squires, Wine Advocate (Issue # 249 - Jun 2020)

$19.98

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2019 Domaine Skouras Moscofilero (750ml)

Moschofilero from Peloponnese, Greece

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

B-21's move to Tarpon Springs in 1966 discovered a significant Greek settlement. They began migrating to our coastal town at the turn of the 20th century to harvest sponge, a Greek island heritage dating back to the ancient Egyptians five thousand years ago. A sponge blight in the Mediterranean had challenged the world's supply. Sitting on the continental shelf off western Florida was a vast virgin sponge forest. Only those of the Dodecanese Islands had the harvesting skills, and so they came. Within twenty years, Tarpon Springs had become "The Sponge Capital of the World." Spongers in from sea, Ouzo and Retsina poured at the local tavernas.

Today, a new generation of inspired Greeks have created world demand from another natural resource. These winemakers have fashioned never heard of ancient indigenous varietals from the Greek mainland and the Aegean into a wine revolution. Demand for Greek whites is soaring, wines such as Malagousia, Moschofilero and Assyrtiko. Malagousia is a particularly aromatic grape with exotic fruits, citrus, jasmine and mint with a viscous palate and medium acidity. Moschofilero is a light pink-skinned grape that produces lively, crisp wines with intense fragrances. Assyrtiko is native to the Aegean Islands and in particular Santorini. Assyrtiko is amoung the great white wines of the world, with excellent acidity, minerality and superb length. All super wines we highly recommend – you'll soak 'em up like a sponge.

89WA

The 2019 Moscofilero (as Skouras spells it) comes in with four grams of residual sugar, 6.1 grams of total acidity and 12% alcohol. This is, of course, from a high-altitude area—the vines are 650 meters above sea level. Dimitris Skouras said that in 2019 the "summer was dry and relatively hot.... September was colder with a lot of sunshine, which helped the maturity of Moscofilero. Harvest started the 1st of October and was shortly paused because of a rain (4th of October). The general excellent conditions formed very healthy grapes producing high acid, more concentrated, more full-bodied Moscofileros. One of the very best vintages we have seen." This is now under the Arcadia appellation.

89 points, Mark Squires, Wine Advocate (Issue # 249 - Jun 2020)

$14.98

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2015 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (750ml)

Corvina from Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Allegrini is an indisputable benchmark for Amarone – the commitment to place and the far-sighted vision of Giovanni Allegrini and a dozen generations before him. Giovanni's three children took over the estate in 1983, Marilisa, Walter and Franco, accelerating the estate's evolution and the potential of Valpolicella. Today, Marilisa is the company's CEO and Franco oversees the vineyards. The impressive success of Giovanni's family is reflected today as the Villa Della Torre. Purchased in 2008, the restoration of the 16th century architectural masterpiece was a labor of love for Marilisa including the interior design and furnishing. Villa Della Torre opened in 2016 as a five star hotel and serves as the headquarters of Allegrini. A tribute to the hospitality of the Allegrini family, worthy of a stay.

94JS 92W&S

For a decadent but sleek wine, the ripeness level is spot-on here. It opens with glazed cherries, dried berries, vanilla, eucalyptus, caramel and wet earth, before following through to a dusty palate with tons of dried fruit, supported by fine acidity and a sweet-and-sour character. Drink from 2023.

94 points, James Suckling (Nov 2019)

Despite the warm, dry growing season of 2015, this shows fresh scents of lavender and wild thyme that lift the wine’s densely concentrated flavors of black plum and baked raspberry. Layers of dark chocolate, black olive and espresso add dimension, while a note of peppery spice lingers on the finish.

92 points, Stepha