ORGA Domaine Zafeirakis Limniona Red 2019

Christos Zafeirakis winery was established in 2012 in Tirnavos, by the foothills of Mount Olympus in Central Greece. It’s a dry region, but cooled by the breezes blowing down from the mountain. There is a high clay content to the soil mixed with flint and gravel. Christos farms organically 14 hectares of his vineyards. He is on the way towards fully biodynamic viticulture. He trained in Italy, Piedmont and Tuscany, before returning to take over the family estate. He is best-known in Greece for his work resurrecting a wonderful grape variety; Limniona. It’s a grape variety that produces quite gently textured reds. There’s none of the bite and twang of Xinomavro, but rather a medium-bodied, herbal, almost pinot-esque quality.

This particular Limniona is 100% organic and is grown at a 300 metre altitude and undergoes spontaneous, wild yeast fermentation in wooden tanks and then matured in oak barrels. 

On the nose it is very spicy with hints of green vegetables, while the palate portrays flavours of game, ripe red fruit and black pepper. This wine is light bodied, very fruit driven but yet complex and has a round texture that coats the mouth. It is best served lightly chilled.