There are times when you are sitting quietly, and somebody brings you to taste something. And you taste it. Your eyes open wide at first sip. It can’t be, you think to yourself. And you re-taste it. And it's even better than before. You do not believe what you smell, and when you put it a little in your mouth it awakens taste buds that you did not even know that they were there.
It is the first of its kind. It's so good that it will definitely pave the way for the next. At least it will force several producers to experiment. New winemakers, groundbreaking experimental methods, a wine that will leave history. The 2016 Fysis of the Domaine Athanasiou from Nemea is the "absolute" expression of a variety and a terroir. It is the first natural wine produced by Agiorgitiko without any interference (absolutely). The harvest was excellent. A specific vineyard at an altitude of 350m in Achladia Nemea, with the oldest roots of the estate, was cultivated with great obsession with organic methodology. The best fruit was separated and treated with unprecedented care. No interference and non-existent sulphites left the variety to do its own stuff. And it did.
After several years of testing, for the first time the young Michalis Athanasiou has in his hands the result he wanted. And we tried it. And it's incredible. Soon you will see writing about it everywhere. But it will be too late. The Fysis 2016 Domaine Athanasiou from Nemea will be exhausted because it was released in just 1350 bottles. The worst? Judging from past failed attempts, we do not know when it will come back.
And to be honest, everybody in botilia.gr’s team already shoved a case each in our cellars. Because everything suggests that it has a long way ahead. How long? We will tell you in a few years.
