Melidou Winery — Lefki Poli White 2021

Tasted as part of a non-Santorini Assyrtiko lineup, Ktima Melidou's Lefki Poli White 2021 from PGI Serres in Macedonia stood out with a delightful roundness and impressive length. A very good mainland Assyrtiko with typical fruity aromas, it earns an excellent 91 points. Melidou is a small family winery with limited online presence, but this bottling is well worth seeking out for anyone exploring what Assyrtiko can deliver beyond Santorini. In the same tasting, past standouts like the Areti White 2019 from Ktima Biblia Chora (PGI Pangeon) and the Assyrtiko 2019 from Olympia Winery (PGI Elia) had both scored 95 points, while among the current lineup the Petali 2021 from Diamantakis Winery (Crete) scored 90 points as a perfect Santorini alternative, and Patistis Wines' Assyrtiko Matzaraki 2020 (PGI Magnesia) topped the session at a magnificent 93 points. The Lefki Poli held its own in this company, confirming that Serres is a region to watch for serious Assyrtiko.