Kaldera - Assyrtiko


Name: Kaldera
Varietal: Assyrtiko
Region: Santorini
Country: Greece
Year: 2021
Price: $9.95

Vintage Cellar Review: A perfect aperitif for a hot summer day, or pairing with seafood and salads, this is a beautifully balanced, light-bodied wine. Aromas include ripe pineapple, lemon and lime, and the palate has a long, racy finish. - 92

Flavors/Aromas: (Pg. 77) This highly acidic, surprisingly alcoholic white wine is pretty rare in the grand scheme of things, but the best iterations of it come from the island of Santorini. It is extremely versatile with regards to food pairings, and it contains flavors of lime, passionfruit, beeswax, flint, and saline.

My Review: One of the great things about going to wine tastings is that you never know what wild blends and varietals you will discover. Case in point: the grape behind this white wine is indigenous to a single Greek island, and thus is relatively rare compared to most other grapes, but I was able to sample it for free and buy a bottle for just $10! I must say that the store description is pretty on the nose (pun intended), as both my initial sniff and first taste were dominated by pineapple and lime tints, made ever more delicate by the lightness of the body. Later, those were complemented by flavors of passionfruit and honey, as well as a bright, mineral-filled acidity in the back of the throat. This minerality later expanded, making for a great finish. Honestly, I found quite a few similarities to a dry Riesling present here, but I absolutely prefer this Greek masterpiece of a grape.

Food Pairing: N/A

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