Château Carras — Château Carras 1984

The Château Carras 1984 (Côtes de Meliton, 12.5% vol) comes from the very early PDO era, still under Gerovassiliou as oenologist, only two years after the appellation was officially recognized. Whether the 70/30 Limnio formula was already in place here or whether the glass holds a more Bordeaux-inspired blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot cannot be clearly determined from public sources. How does it compare to the 1997? At first, a very slight mustiness, but it dissipates quickly. Then a very iodine-driven nose. Sloe, sea buckthorn. On the palate, once again that wonderful salinity — but here truly carried by even more astonishing fruit. Red berries, beetroot, something blood-like. Long finish. Good acidity. A truly refreshing wine that should not be served too warm, given its mere 12.5% alcohol. And a fascinating tannin: not truly polished, still too biting, powerful — yet making room for the aromatics. A fascinating wine. 95 points.