Axia (Syrah-Xinomavro) 2017 and S.M.X 2017 from Alpha Estate

Axia, Syrah-Xinomavro, 2017 from Alpha Estate

This wine from Alpha Estate (details on the winery can be found here) shows itself, very quickly after opening, with very lovely red fruit and a touch of tomato on the nose. Syrah and Xinomavro – 50% each – harmonise quite wonderfully there. On the palate, soft yet clinging tannin nestles in. The acidity, which carries the wine far, is lovely too. Opened for a few days, the wine then shows its full potential. The first oxidative notes then become noticeable, lending the wine more than just decent complexity despite its fairly young age. Lovely forest fruit, but nothing overripe whatsoever. A brief floral peak that precedes the medium-length finish. And what fantastic grip – it really can't be overstated! A truly magnificent wine with 18 points. That it's available for under €10 already is honestly hard to believe. We think this is one of the best reds on the market in this price bracket!

Anyone wanting to check this verdict, while supporting this blog through a commission at the same time, can buy the wine via this link (in German) for €8.90 a bottle from our partner shop.

S. M. X. 2017 from Alpha Estate

In some respects the big brother to the Axia, this too is a cuvée of Syrah and Xinomavro. The former is represented here even more dominantly, at 60%, while the latter now shares its role as blending partner equally with Merlot. Already on the nose, the somewhat more serious ambitions are confirmed. Wet flint joins the fruit here, which is now also noticeably darker and recalls blueberry and, above all, blackberry. On top of that comes a portion of clove – which here, though, certainly won't prove divisive the way it often does when it shows up, but is beautifully integrated instead. On the palate, then, very lively chorizo notes alongside plum. In the middle, a touch of orange zest and a decent portion of rosemary take over. On the finish, then comes coffee, which easily keeps pace with the 14.5% alcohol, and in a second wave gives way to pepper. All of that is already there very quickly after opening, even if you certainly won't go wrong decanting it. It definitely doesn't need several days to get going, though. A wine that's as phenomenal at 18.5 points as you'd expect from an estate like Alpha Estate reducing yields down to just 25.5 hl/ha. The 93 points from Robert Parker the wine already had are more than fitting here. You really should put the bottle away on the shelf for a few years first. Because it's likely to have ageing potential like only a few other Greek reds. That's hard to do, though, because even now, what's in the bottle is simply damn delicious.

This wine is still available for €19.99 a bottle from our partner shop. Ordering via this link (in German) earns us a commission that helps us run this website.