Nelion Winery
Diarizos Valley, Cyprus
13.7.21
2020 Imifos Xynisteri
Three vineyards: 500m, 700m & 900m
Vinified separately
Blended wine on fine lees for 4 months
13% abv
Markedly aromatic and lifted for Xynisteri and redolent of ripe red apple and even peach. On the palate these candied nuances continue, but the theme is altogether more about lemon juice. Whilst an approachable, uncomplicated and highly drinkable wine, this Xynisteri sports wet stones and seashell flavours that bolster its savoury complexity and that contribute to its food utility.
2020 Rkaes Xynisteri
Single vineyard: 470m
4 months in 500 litre acacia barrels on fine lees
13% abv
A really serious Xynisteri that shows mountain garrigue on the nose and palate, but that also sports a mouth filling oiliness, texture and expansiveness. There’s something attractively savoury about this wine that focuses the attention on the perception of salinity, sappiness, and culinary herbs. A very well balanced and elegant wine that should also repay some cellaring and development.
2019 Xynisteri (Oak)
The same vineyards as Imifos, but subject to an additional week of ripening
24 hours skin contact
12 months in new French oak on fine lees
13.5% abv
A markedly ripe bouquet of Mirabel plum, lemon juice and peach follows through on the palate, where some astringency and grip (from the barrels) push back at the ripeness and opulence of the fruit. Some juicy, oaky grapefruit rind fills out the finale. Long and textured on the finish.
2020 Imifos Rosé
Black Muscat from 630m & 700m
24-48 hours maceration
Low-temperature fermentation for c.30 days
4 months on fine lees
A lovely limpid pale pink/mid-salmon hue. Delicately aromatic and restrained. A really quietly-spoken rosé that’s more about the texture and mouthfeel than the red-berried fruit. A clean, fresh Black Hamburg that, whilst not as vibrantly fruity as one of its parents, provides freshness and easy-drinking. A really useful food wine that would make sense of all sorts of seafood and vegetable dishes.
2017 Ofthalmo
Two vineyards: 600m & 800m
15 day maceration
Post-fermentation pigeage
12 months in French oak
A lovely bright mid ruby hue that announces this paler red grape from the outset. Tart black cherry and juicy plum on the nose give way to, something rather plusher and even dry-fruited on the palate. The tannins, whilst discernible, are soft and pliant. Hints of raisin and prune overlay the initial crunchiness of the primary fruit. A really unadorned medium weight wine with an approachable and joyful personality. This could work with almost anything by way of meat, fowl, vegetable or sea fish. One to watch…
2017 Maratheftiko
Single vineyard at 800m
21 day maceration
Post-fermentation pigeage
12 months in new French oak
Though not opaque, this wine shows a deeply-saturated purply/ruby. Fragrant and inviting black cherry, bramble, leafiness and undergrowth. Grippy and taut on the palate, though showing very well-resolved chalky tannins and a lovely creamy texture. Whilst crunchy and fresh, this wine also boasts good textural precision and an elegant restraint. A well-balanced wine that benefits from oxidative complexity and creaminess without the oak dominating. Certainly a wine that could benefit from a little cellaring.
