Château Carras — Château Carras 1997

Château Carras 1997 (Côtes de Meliton V.Q.P.R.D., 13% vol). Gegas lists Cabernet Sauvignon and Limnio in his metadata; the exact blend cannot be conclusively determined without the label or data sheet. Expectations for this wine were quite high, as the Greek critic Pavlos Gegas wrote in 2016 in almost hymn-like tones about this vintage: sous bois, smoked bacon, salinity, red cherries and blackberries, plum, dry tar -- along with flawless tannins, outstanding acidity, and a deep, linear finish. 93+ points. On the nose, ripe notes of undergrowth as well as bacon-like aromas. By no means a wine one would date to the 1990s by its color -- still remarkably fresh. On the palate, plum, blackberries, excellent freshness. We are dealing here with only 13% alcohol, and that serves this wine very well, especially compared to the other wines tasted. The acidity is also spot on. On top of that, however, there is a simply unending salinity. Unprecedented for any Greek wine I have tasted to date. 94 points.