Domaine Costa Lazaridi — Amethystos White 2020

The Amethystos weiß 2020 from Domaine Costa Lazaridi in the PGI Drama is a blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Assyrtiko, and it invites comparison with other well-known representatives of this combination, such as the Thema weiß from Ktima Pavlidis or the Ktima Biblia Chora weiß – all three estates sit along a north-south axis in northern Greece.

Despite the dominant French variety, the acidity in the 2020 vintage is very much present, though without the right food pairing it can come across as quite sharp. The citrus aromatics fit right in, carried through with real consistency. The green notes of the Sauvignon Blanc are entirely in service of a lemon fruit that completely dominates the finish. And that finish is remarkably long, especially for an entry-level wine. However, several tasters found this clear-cut profile too pushy, which is why the wine lands at a very good 84 points – with the special caveat that lovers of bright lemon will be absolutely thrilled here. The current 2021 vintage is available for €12.50.