Greek Wines From Naoussa & Nemea

To know more about new friends, you can start with the food they eat at home.  If your new friends come from a wine making country, it is a great chance to know more about how the locals think about their own wine.

Last night, my friend from Greece prepared me two bottles of Greek wines that he brought from home and return to work in Hong Kong.  (To my great Greek friend, thank you so much!)

As of the wine, although its less known of quality wine, Greek is of great quality!

Two red wines are tasted this night, a 2006 vintage of Syrah and Cabinet Sauvignon blend, another 2000 vintage of a local variety, which even my friend is unable to identify from the wine label.

Aibasiv Nemea 2006 Syrah Cabinet Sauvignon

I have to admit that I'm not 100% sure about the producer name of this wine, since the name in script font on the label, and the Greek only words labeling, are both unreadable to me.

The wine has less than medium intensity of ruby red colour, although it is a relatively young vintage, some sediment is seen, this implies the wine may be an unfiltered one.

The nose has medium plus intensity of blackcurrant, fruity and youthful.

Dry and med plus acidity on the palate, added the relatively high alcohol level. Tannin is medium minus.
The wine is quite a powerful one, the intensiveness of fruit and alcohol is not more than aggressive.  The length is however not long, although the body is quite full.

Without much expectation, this wine is of good quality, ready to drink now.

Boutari Naoussa 2000 Grande Reserve

Made from a local variety from Naoussa, this wine shows the elegance of a Greek wine.

The wine has clear pale ruby red colour, the nose has high intensity of red cherry.

On the first sip, the wine express its fineness long time in oak (36 months as my Greek friend tried to read the label for me).  Well rounded silky tannin, with integrated smoky, oak flavor in the wine, the intensity of the red cherry fruit still manged to find its way to express itself. 

All of friends find the wine can be summarized this wine of good balance, elegance and easy to drink

The wine has more than good quality, ready to drink and may further improve for one to two years.

PLUS: Greek Local Dishes
Wine and food go together, and both have been a part of daily life in Western countries, so my friend also showed me some traditional Greek food

Meat Ball, Salad, Cheese & Spanish Ham

Salad & The Breed Dip (Outside the photo..)

The dip is made of yogurt and Garlic, when the latter one is used much less than it is in traditional style, to better fit with our Chinese preference.