Alpha Estate — Hedgehog 2017

The Hedgehog 2017 from Alpha Estate, PDO Amyndeo, aged 12 months in French oak barrels followed by 12 months in bottle, already showed its class in 2021 as the best entry point into Xinomavro — offering wonderful dried tomatoes, strawberries, herbs, and very delicate earthy notes with perfectly balanced acidity, where the added value over the Axia was clearly evident. At a later tasting in 2024, the wine had reached its perfect drinking window and presented a complex palette of blackberry, smoke, and herbal notes. As part of an extensive Xinomavro exploration, it stood out as one of the most compelling reds. 93+ points.