Argyros, Vinsanto 12 Years

ESTG does Sicily (Seattle, WA, USA) : 80% Assyrtiko, 10% Athiri, 10% Aidani. Fairly ponderous and sweet on day 1 with burned sugar moving to maple syrup. On day 2 there is a lot of apparent acidity and spicy eucalyptus on the finish that makes this more interesting. Actually quite nice on its own and not at the end of a big tasting.

(240 g/L RS) Dark amber colour with Manuka honey, preserved tangerine and Clementine orange. More cinnamon and richer texture with almost endless finish. Sweet nectar, similar to a top-notch 20-year old Tawny or 6P Tokaji . Really at a sweet spot now!

**Sweet Sunday** (17,5/20) Tasting the first release next to the late release. That's 4 years oak vs 12 years oak! Both are a blend of 80% Assyrtiko, 10% Athiri and 10% Aidani, from more than 200-year-old vines! Late harvested (month later than for their regular wines), sun-dried for 14 days, fermentation took 8 months and stopped naturally, aged for 4 years in open concrete tanks and another 12(!!) years in old oak vats (some Russian oak). Super complex wine, beautiful …

This is an incredible wine. There is amazing intensity on the palate but it's almost too much, which is why I'm not scoring it much above the 4 years aged, because I think that's a bit more accessible. Still this is brilliant with its tones of chocolate and caramel. We were invited to try it with blue cheese and its intensity is such that it rather demolished the latter!

From winery brochure: Visa to 12 years barrel aged is the blend of 80% Assyrtiko, 10% aidani and 10% Athiri. Amber color, with flavors of railings, figs and butterscotch. Balanced acidity and long aftertaste.

Delicious! Brickish colored in the glass, nose of cedar and caramel, Rich full mouthfeel, palate is toasty, with bitter orange, plum, dried currants, bing cherry and a nutty long finish. I can taste the Santorini sun. First WOW wine of the year. (80% Assyrtiko, 10% Athiri, 10% Aidani, bottled in 2010)

Mismash of hasty impressions from Winebow and Regal Portfolio Tastings (NYC) : Far less piercing acidity vs Gaia 2002. More raisiny, honeyed marcona almond. Very good

Visit to Estate Argyros (Santorini) : Compared to the 4yr barrel aged, this has lost a lot of that baby fat. More smoky and nutty, this shows more nuanced flavors of raisin, dried apricot, and caramel on an exceptionally well-balanced body. Just the right amount of acidity to balance out the sugar. Extremely enjoyable at this stage, and will likely continue to evolve nicely for many more years.