The Vassaltis Winery is the latest addition to Santorini’s booming wine culture, with construction completed in April 2016. Yiannis Valambous, together with oenologists Elias Roussakis and Yannis Papaeconomou, who complete the team, share the vision that Santorini can produce world class wines and that a new generation of Greek winemakers can deliver big results, given the opportunity.
Typically, in the winery, after the gentle pressing of whole bunch clusters, they allow the free run juice vinification to take place in stainless steel tanks under controlled temperature. The wine remains on its lees for 6 months in the tank before bottling.
Vassaltis Assyrtiko 2017, DO Santorini, 13.8 Abv.
The latest release from Yiannis Valambous’ Vassaltis Winery is another absolute cracker. Pale straw yellow, the aromatics show incredible intensity and complexity with layers of crunchy green pear, pithy apple, white citrus, almonds skins and a most captivating maritime note that wafts out the glass. An incredible mix of salty sea breeze, kelp beds, rain drenched concrete and crushed granite minerality mix with notes baking herbs, dried straw and yellow pithy orchard fruits. The palate shows an impressive grown up restraint and displays vibrant fleshy layers of yellow stone fruits, yellow grapefruit and white peach, all underpinned by a tantalising salty, briney twang and chiselled, crystalline fresh acids. A really profound white wine that serves as a flag-bearer for the island of Santorini and its iconic Assyrtiko variety. Drink now to 2028+
(Wine Safari Score: 94+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Greg Sherwood MW 