Do you know what Garage Wines are? Their source may be France, but this logic is spreading to different parts of the world. We found one of them, GI IL MA 2016 Christopoulos Vineyards at Daphne of Aigio, Greece! And we are very happy.
Nikos Christopoulos is a passionate winemaker who really worships the vineyard. He began some years ago by making super-concentrated wines only for a few. His studies at the Greek Agricultural University set the basis.
With 7 harvests on his back, he decided to "let" the wine-loving audience to get to know his wines. They came into our glasses and now in yours.
His father's vineyards, in Daphne, Aigio, and specifically in the area of Voriamana, were the basis of his winemaking life.
"Since I was young I remember my father telling me that we had to go to Voriamana and he explained to me that Voriamana was where the mother of the North was. The area is a north-facing location overlooking the Corinthian bay with very cool northern winds chilling the place. We have a great temperature difference during the day and the grapes are refreshed during the night. That's what Syrah wants. A nice view and a little bit of chill", says Nikos Christopoulos.
GI IL MA is a deeply sentimental wine that took its name from the initials of his wife and children. The base is Syrah from a vineyard of 2.000 m2 at an altitude of 500 meters. With patience, persistence and a lot of work he got the perfectly matured and concentrated grape and gave it the means to express itself beautifully. Mild extraction and 12 months in oak barrels of 3rd and 4th use gave a perfectly expressive, delicious and exquisite wine.
The Gi.il.ma 2016 by Nikos Christopoulos became one of our favorite Syrah this year, and you know how demanding we are with our Syrah.
