Ktima Pavlidis — Emphasis Agiorgitiko 2016

The Emphasis Agiorgitiko from Ktima Pavlidis in the PGI Drama is something of a classic when it comes to establishing this grape variety far from its Peloponnesian homeland. However, this 2016 vintage still presents itself as very young on the nose — so unruly, in fact, that slight doubts about the bottle crept in. The impression is dominated by aromas of cedarwood, a constant that carries all the way through to the finish. The tannins fill the entire mouth but are still too overwhelming at this point — the oak far less harmoniously integrated than in the Syrah blend, the Thema red, from the same estate. On the palate, a touch of raspberry emerges, and sour cherry joins in on the medium-length finish. A wine that already deserves a very good 87+ points, but certainly has far greater potential, only hinting at its fruit for now. This is at least suggested by the fact that Mark Squires, writing for the Wine Advocate in 2019, awarded the 2012 vintage of this wine 92 points, noting very good fruit — while the pronounced oak had already dissipated after half an hour. In this tasting, there was no sign of that even after days. The discrepancy leaves lingering doubts about the quality of this particular bottle.