Why do we love it?
Jim Barry's Assyrtiko is the first Assyrtiko outside Greece and doubles our happiness. Firstly, because it is an amazing wine, with the typicity and complexity of Assyrtiko being underlined by Riesling-like Australian vinification. And secondly, because it makes us proud that such an important winery as Jim Barry chose to deal with Assyrtiko, recognizing the potential and greatness of the variety.
The story is more or less known. Peter Barry, now at the helm of the winery, came to Greece on holiday in the summer of 2006. After an appointment with the sellers, he refuses to drink coffee and asks for wine, as he believes that a glass of wine at 14:00 makes the day seem smaller. The only wine in the fridge was an Assyrtiko from Santorini. After a sip, Barry is shocked: "it tastes like our Rieslings but it has a taste I have never tried before". He decides to take cuttings from a 300-year-old (from Argyros Estate) pre-Phylloxera, vine. In 2012, Assyrtiko is planted on Lodge Hill, a special vineyard, one of the family’s favorites, which makes excellent Rieslings. Part of Assyrtiko is aged in large oak barrels, with its fine wine lees to add volume, texture, and complexity to the final result.
Jim Barry's Assyrtiko is definitely one of the wines you should try!
Tastes Like
It has pale lemon color and aromas of fresh lemon, lime, grapefruit, peach, melon and wet stone. In the mouth the lemony character along with the intense mineral sensation dominate. Notes of honey, white flowers and grapefruit are following. It has moderate body and sharp acidity.
