Twelve blush, salmon and ruby wines from 12 winemakers in Messinia treat us to an aromatic and flavorful journey through the legendary vineyard of Messinia.
Autumn «calls» us for wine and we have chosen the labels that suit it best. Wines with a shared point of reference: the radiant rosé color and a quality-assured provenance, Messinia. In Messinia’s fertile terroir many international and local varieties find their home, and wines are nurtured with crisp aromas of peaches and citrus, lively spice notes and sprightly floral hints. This bouquet makes the transition to the cooler months much smoother and autumn dishes even more tempting.
After all, it is a period of adjustment that often offers up warm and cool days, seeking vinous partners with personality that know how to balance aromas, acidity, alcohol and tannins. Study the list and make your own experiments.
The rosés of Messinia
The up-and-coming Grenache Rouge
A variety that stands out in French circles has been on the rise in our wine scene, and the soils of Messinia seem to suit it beautifully. The region has embraced it and the rosé wines that result entice us into Mediterranean pairings.
For lovers of Grenache Rouge we have two must taste suggestions - on the one hand Cube rosé and on the other Sykalistra. Cube from Panagiotopoulos Family Estate is brimming with playful aromas, from wildflowers and red fruits to teasing herbs, while it leaves a refreshing aftertaste at the end. That final wave of freshness is just right to revive the palate when we are enjoying the delicious range of our olive-oil braised dishes.
In the same area, in Metamorfosi, Messinia, Sykalistra is vinified by Tagalakis Winery, a blend of Grenache Rouge and Mavroudi, that is wonderfully fragrant with red fruits and it too adds an oomph to dishes with red sauce.
Lets get to know Fileri
For those looking for a local variety, Fileri Rosé from Nestor Wines will do the trick. Rosy highlights characterize its delicate color, and on the palate it flirts with fruit and light notes of basil, herbs and blossoms. It has a playful finish in which fresh citrus take center stage. At a table with pasta, white meats and soft cheeses it showcases its dynamism while polishing and enhancing their flavors.
Lets go to Syrah
Many of us love the French red variety, and not without reason. In Messinia it has pride of place and excels across different wine expressions. Here we chose some of the top ones.
The elegant Syrah 1827 from Navarino Vineyards is a wine that fits every occasion, from moments of relaxation to a table with your loved ones. With playful aromas of fruits and spices and a soft feel on the palate, it pairs wonderfully with Mediterranean cuisine and the trend favorite, Asian.
An equally provocative suggestion comes from Psarouli Winery. The dry rosé wine from Vasilada, Messinia comes from a historic forty-year-old vineyard. After careful harvesting and masterful vinification it is endowed with deep color, lovely acidity and explosive aromas on the nose and palate. You will surely enjoy it on its own, but if you are in an indulgent mood you can set beside it a generous assortment of aged cheeses and thinly sliced charcuterie.
And the king Merlot
Many may consider Cabernet the world’s number one red variety, but Merlot manages to steal the show with its juicy fruit and velvety tannins and climb to the throne of preferences.
In Messinia, rosés from Merlot have a very good composition of fruits, like the impressive Chameleon from Dereskou Estate. Its crisp acidity, alluring aromas of strawberry and cherry, and peppery, fruity aftertaste make it irresistible. Put pots on or fire up the oven and try it with giouvetsi, with lovely tagliatelle with veal, even with seafood plaki. It is a versatile wine with stamina over time.
For comfort dishes, such as gigantes beans or pasta with minced meat, we switch and open 3 Kores from Gotsi Estate. This wine is also 100% merlot and floods our senses with spices and fruit.
The series of Merlot from Messinia is completed with Oinotropae Estate and Ombre. With a rose-like color, discreet herbaceousness on the nose, fresh citrus aromas and a taste that alternates between notes of peach, strawberry and caramel, it closes an autumn meal with baklava.
The red diamond of the Peloponnese
One of the two red ambassador varieties of our country grows and ripens in Messinia, none other than the popular, easy-drinking and multi-talented Agiorgitiko.
Biovin - Tsavolakis Wines proposes an indicative label, Valeria. The wine has many virtues: to start with, it smells of roses and cherries and its palate is soft and very pleasant, just right also for the much-coveted ladera and legumes.
An elegant combination of Agiorgitiko and Merlot is found in Mati Fortuna Gold Edition Rose from ASTIR X winery. The dynamic duo spoils us as it floods our senses with aromas of peaches, citrus and flowers. I think it is a good case to put it alongside salads with bulgur, couscous and whatever else comes to mind with grilled vegetables.
The rare from Limniona and the aromatic from Malagousia
A distinctive proposal is L’ètè nu from Andania Valley Wines, a dry rosé wine from Limniona. In its aromas, strawberry and cherry throw a party, framed by a discreet note of butterscotch. On the palate, the fruity intensity balances with the acidity, offering a delightful and elegant finish.
The lineup of Messinia’s rosés concludes with Mochthos from Patsouros Winery & Vineyards. In this very special wine, generous Malagousia meets sturdy Syrah and they unite their gifts. Keep it to enjoy after the office as an excellent chilled aperitif.
Source: Reader.gr
