Domaine Katsaros – Valos 2018

2018 Valos, Domaine Katsaros (PGI Thessalia). Another medium-alcohol Xinomavro (13.5%). Unfortunately, this wine didn't live up to expectations. Domaine Katsaros is known for producing some of the best Bordeaux-style blends in Greece, as well as a standout Chardonnay – the Stella, whose 2020 vintage is one of my favorite wines – but at least this bottle of their Xinomavro, the first I ever had, missed the mark. The nose had a lot of barnyard aromas – which I usually like, but here they were off. I doubt it is just Brettanomyces. On the palate, the wine is dominated by bitterness, with a harsh, fruit-skin-like quality that overwhelms any potential complexity. Sadly, it's a disappointment from a typically strong producer, earning just 84 points.