Domaine Hatzimichalis — Merlot Alargino 2004

Domaine Hatzimichalis was among the first Greek estates to plant international varieties when Dimitris Hatzimichalis founded it in 1973 in the Atalanti Valley of Central Greece, and it was the first Greek winery to bottle Merlot as a single varietal, starting with the 1989 vintage. The Merlot Alargino comes from the vineyard called "Alargino" — meaning "the furthest away" — at 320–350 meters elevation, with no irrigation and low yields of around 3,500 kg/ha. The microclimate benefits from cool breezes flowing between Mount Parnassus and the Euboean Gulf. The 2004 vintage of this 100% Merlot was even more intriguing than the already impressive 1992 (which scored 93 points and was reportedly the first Greek wine ever on the IWC Top 100 list). Initially, there was a lot of leather on the nose. But then, more and more aromas unfolded — licorice, flint, graphite, and even a surprising amount of blackberry. Great acidity on the palate. A wine clearly at its peak, and one that earns a well-deserved 95 points.