2017 T-Oinos Clos Stegasta Rare Mavrotragano

Bottled March 2019. Farmed organically on sandy clay over granite. Terraces at 400 m and a planting density of 11,000 vines/ha. Whole berry and a small percentage of whole bunch fermented in open wooden vats. Inoculated with yeasts isolated from their own vineyards. Malo in barrel and 12–14 months in 500-litre barrels (Taransaud and Stockinger), of which 20% new. pH 3.7. Quite charry on the palate, dark chocolate, very rounded and creamy in texture. Powerful but super-polished. Gentle acidity. Ripe chocolate-covered black fruit. Lush and plush and just fresh enough. Very long. Doesn’t show quite the same edginess of the variety as the Rare does. Beautiful balance and a very fine dry texture. (JH)