Advent Wine Challenge Day 22: Sclavos Tsaousi
Over the last two years, I’ve really enjoyed exploring some of the wines of Cephalonia (or Kefalonia, as you like). I’ve yet to make it there though although it’s one of two Greek islands I’d really love to get to sometime soon. The other being Paros, if you were wondering. Until then, I shall just have to content myself with the Robola and other interesting wines from the islands that I can source in Athens. And while Robola may be the most prominent grape from Cephalonia, that’s not what today’s wine is.
Advent day 22
Sclavos Tsaousi, 2019
Sclavos Wines is one of the island’s more prominent wineries. With possibly the weirdest line up. I’ve tried a number of their wines with my Athenian friends and they generated vastly mixed reactions. Mostly with Eva giving a firm ‘no’, Mauricio a ‘are you sure this hasn’t gone off?’, and me a ‘I don’t think I like it but it’s interesting’. The Tsaousi definitely hit all those reactions. From the winery:
In the mountainous area of Palli Monabeles, the local variety Tsaousi (sugarcane clone) is biodynamically cultivated in autonomous vineyards over 70 years old. The composition of the soil is limestone with the mineral character of marl limestone ‘Maltese slab’ and the altitude is about 250 meters. The yield of the stumps does not exceed 250 kg / acre. The harvest takes place during the period 15-20 August. The result of the biodynamic vinification is an aromatic wine with aromas of white fruit with balanced acidity and complete aftertaste. Fermentation and stay in the fine lees for about 7 months. No preservatives are added before and after bottling…Organic wine with Demeter certification.
Deep gold in the glass, but if I read the description correctly, there was definitely some skin contact happening. Intense aromas of popcorn, tarragon, apple cider vinegar, tree fruit, and tobacco flowers. Slightly effervescent (refermentation?) with medium acidity and 13% abv, the palate offered flavors of bitter almond, apple cider vinegar, blood orange, and tobacco.
And I did it!! One wine a day for every day of Advent. Tomorrow is Christmas day so I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.