KOTSIFALI MANDILARI 2012 DUET – IDAIA WINERY

Two emblematic varieties of the island of Crete, which is the hottest wine topic, not only in Greece, Kotsifali and Mandilari reward those who bet on the local varieties. In the best blend so far, they prove that they can give great wines which should not be jealous of the most known international varieties.

The oenologists Vasilis Laderos and Poppi Volitaki aim to captivate people based on the excellent raw material of their privately owned vineyard at the Dafnes zone in Herakleio, which is the area with the most ancient probably vineyard in Europe whose findings exist since the Minoan Era.

After an over–ripe harvest, the almost raisin–like grapes give aromas and flavours of outstanding condensing in a wine that impressed everyone and by common consent it is the best of its kind. Excellent year, exceptional raw material and special care in technical details made Kotsifali Mandilari 2010 by Idaia Winery one of the best wines we tasted lately at Oinotika, the exhibition of all Cretan wine.

And believed us , we tasted a lot . . .

In the glass, its colour is impressive ruby–red.

In the nose, the very sweet red fruit and the sweet spices are uniquely combined in a rich and complicated bouquet. Cherry, bitter cherry and forest fruit meet cinammon, rose and vanilla in an absolutely harmoniously mariage.

In the mouth, it is rich and juicy with well–worked soft tannins and acidity that refreshes the mouth. The cherry stands out in more spicy tones and remains in the mouth in the very long – lasting aftertaste.