2021 Ktima Gerovassiliou Estate Red, Macedonia

Ktima Gerovassiliou Estate Red is a bold, elegant wine from the sun-drenched hills of Epanomi in northern Greece, just outside Thessaloniki. This is a flagship red blend from one of Greece’s most respected estates, led by the legendary Vangelis Gerovassiliou, who is widely credited with modernising Greek wine and reviving indigenous varieties.

The Estate Red is typically a marriage of Syrah, Merlot and Limnio, an ancient Greek grape that Aristotle himself once praised. Limnio brings herbal depth and earthy elegance, Syrah adds spice and structure, and Merlot rounds it all out with lush fruit and softness. The grapes come from the estate's privately owned single vineyard, planted on gently sloping hills with sandy-clay soils rich in marine fossils, offering excellent drainage and minerality.

Each variety is vinified separately in stainless steel and then matured in French oak barrels, usually for around 12 months. The result is a wine that’s deeply coloured, aromatic and layered. Expect a nose of black cherry, plum and mulberry, followed by black pepper, bay leaf, cedar and a touch of tobacco. On the palate, it’s full-bodied and polished, with fine-grained tannins and a long, savoury finish that hints at dark chocolate and dried herbs.

Vangelis Gerovassiliou’s meticulous vineyard work and precision in the cellar make this a benchmark for Greek reds. The influence of Bordeaux training meets Greek tradition in a wine that is both internationally appealing and rooted in place.

Ideal with slow-roasted lamb, grilled ribeye, or moussaka. It also rewards cellaring, developing more complexity and harmony over 5 to 10 years.