![Kir-Yianni "Ramnista" Xinomavro 2018 (Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece) - [JS 92] [WA 90+]](http://artisan.wine/cdn/shop/products/D1sKUcaRTUqVVacx1mPEiA_pb_x960_5b69673a-a36c-4195-84ff-f932464ad7a9_{width}x.png?v=1637792757)
Kir-Yianni "Ramnista" Xinomavro 2018
(Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece) - [JS 92] [WA 90+]
Regular price $36.00 Sale price $32.97 Save $3.03
About the Winery:
Kir-Yianni was established in 1997 by Yiannis Boutaris, one of the leading figures in the Greek wine industry. Kir-Yianni, “Mr. John” in Greek, is best known for producing premium Xinomavro from the slopes of Mt. Vermio in Northwestern Greece. Today, Stellios Boutaris, son of Yiannis, actively manages the winery and their two 30+ year-old estate vineyards located in Naoussa and Amyndeon. The Kir-Yianni philosophy is a desire for innovation, respect for tradition and true knowledge of the wine, from the grape to the consumer.
The Boutari family is one of the biggest wine dynasties in Greece but Yiannis wanted to create a more terroir driven style of wine from Naoussa region that was also reflective of the new advances and technologies available in the wine industry. They have expanded to nearly 60 hectares with the primary focus on Xinomavro, one of Greece's most noble varieties. The "Ramnista" has become one of the flagship wines of the estate composed of 100% Xinomavro. It is aged in a mix of French and American oak casks for 18 months before bottling. It is one of the purest expressions of this grape and has great aging potential.
- 100% Xinomavro
- Handpicked grapes from dense, low-yielding vineyards
- Aged 16 months in a blend of French and American oak
About the Wine:
An aromatic and complex wine which combines powerfully fresh red fruits and notes of rose. On the palate, there are gentle tannins and a round mouthfeel, with a distinctive sense of the oak barrel. The unexpected full body and robust acidity showcase a great wine with aging potential up to 15 years.
Richer and fuller than most Naoussa, this is backed with blackberry and dark cherry alongside the classic sun-dried tomato notes of Xinomavro. The perfect Greek red for lamb or roast beef.
Ratings & Reviews
92 Points - James Suckling:
"A firm and spicy red with sliced-plum, white-pepper and crushed-stone aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with crisp and lightly tannined finish. Delicious now."
"The 2018 Ramnista, all Xinomavro, was aged for 16 months in 30% new 5,000-liter French casks (but for a 5% dollop of American wood). It comes in at 15.1% alcohol. This is a deep, ripe and relatively rich Ramnista, but underneath, it is still Ramnista. There is some power and some grip on the finish. The fruit shows some character too, not just ripeness. Still, if you like the fresher more focused styles, this is a wine that leans more to its fruit. Even so, it is beautifully textured and lingers nicely on the finish. The baked cherries are still very tasty. It seems full-bodied and able to hold up to stronger foods this year. Overall, I wound up liking this a lot, but the ultimate test of this wine is going to be how it acquires complexity as it ages. Xinomavro holds well, and this should do some 20 years from the vintage date, but how gracefully it ages will be the better question. For now, it can be drunk even today. That won't be the best this wine has to offer you, though. A little patience will serve you and it well over the next few years."