With the following post
I'd like to approach the versatile cosmos of autochthonous Greek
grape varieties. Like in my previous hyper-auto' “Happening Now Tasting”
posts I need to limit myself to just one "pure" varietal. Unfortunately! This time I
found it really difficult to choose One from such a rich "national" bounty.
Well, anyway … my selection fell on a varietal with rich body,
transfixing creamy taste, a diva-like attitude (in the vineyard - mostly), robust juiciness and
of course as originally intended minuscule quantities. A varietal often considered as
Greece’s version of Viogner. Its name? Vidiano!? Ohh yeeaass, I admit it!
Prior to my challenging choice I have not even heard of it (either) …!
Vidiano is grown in small scale (apparently just about 70 hectares)
on the island of Crete. Especially around the area of Rethymnon and
Heraklion. My Vidiano from 2013 derives from rocky, calciferous as well as
sloping highland grounds in the area of the Messara Plain south of
Heraklion. It's producer? The locally well known and impressively established (check the website) Domaine
Zacharioudakis. The grapes for this Vidiano where organically cultivated and underwent an apparently unusual
– at least for wines from Vidiano – five months ageing in French oak
barrels. Let's check it out ...
