Diamantis Winery “Magoutes Vineyard” Rosé

Macedonia , GREECE |  2020

Summer is ending but that doesn’t mean we still can’t enjoy rosé! Especially when it’s a rosé like this one.

Resting on the rugged limestone terrain of northwestern Macedonia sits the inimitable Diamantis Winery run by 3rd generation winemaker Dimitri Diamantis. This area known as Siatista is considered to be one of Greece’s coolest winegrowing regions due to its high-altitude mountainous climate. Being tucked so far inland also disallows the softening influence of the maritime climate below, and when combined with the poor limestone soils, this makes life less easy for the vine which imparts greater complexity to its fruit.

The Diamantis winery also lays claim to some of the oldest producing vines in Greece having been planted by Dimitri’s grandfather in the beginning of the 20th century. This again provides layers of complexity that younger vines cannot obtain. The high-altitude Magoutes vineyard is a mix of limestone and clay and is known to produce some of the most ravishing Xinomavro, Moschomavro, and Negoska amongst other indigenous grapes of the region. The quality of the fruit is so high that Dimitri prefers very minimal intervention so as to allow the fruit to tell the story of its terroir.

This rosé is one that we believe only greatly improves with age so going into its 3rd year will only soften the high acidity and better integrate the berries and mountain herbs this wine shows in its youth. The wine is 80% Xinomavro but has 20% Moschomavro which was thought to be extinct after having lost traction in the 1970s, but Dimitri has begun to revive this long-lost varietal and is the only winery to produce 100% varietal wines from it. Being a descendant of the muscat grape, the addition of Moschomavro adds freshness and fruitiness to the dense, brooding Xinomavro. The resulting rosé is a serious take on the genre but is still playful with its lifted aromatic nose and prickly mouthfeel. Pair this one with the last of the farmer’s market’s seasonal tomatoes and cucumbers!