2010 Thymiopoulos "Young Vines" Xinomavro Naousa

SKU #1085118 89 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

...a bargain priced bottling that is going to consistently offer great value if you like its style. Given the charm and the nice price point, I suspect a lot of folks will rightly make this one of their staple Greek red purchases. This young vines Xinomavro admittedly lacks the concentration and future complexity of its big brothers, but I won’t be surprised if many people like it as well. What it does do is be more expressive at a younger age and more exuberant. The fruit is much more open and intensely flavorful--even to the point of a sweet, slightly candied note on the finish that admittedly not everyone will care for. Still, while lighter styled, fruitier and sweeter, this Xinomavro retains powerful echoes of traditional Xinomavro, meaning that it executes its exuberant style especially well by including a real backbone and good acidity, not just being simple and fruity. It is as if one blended traditional Xinomavro with Gamay. Silky in texture, young and primary, it is awfully hard to resist. This is what I call a 'waiter with the water' wine after the Ella Fitzgerald novelty song. You know it is not quite as serious as it could be, but you can’t resist it anyway. This is a different vision of Xinomavro and being fair to it requires just a little palate adjustment. This has to be judged in its own context; it is its own creature, for better or worse. Most will think it is quite a deal. Drink now-2019. (2/ 2012)

Wine & Spirits

A new style of Naoussa, this is young and fruity, a Beaujolais-like combination of jammy, fresh raspberry fruit and bright, tart acidity. Give it a chill for backyard drinking on a warm night. (8/ 2012)