Ktima Pavlidis – Emphasis Agiorgitiko 2018

The Emphasis Agiorgitiko Single Vineyard 2018 from Ktima Pavlidis (PGI Drama, 100% Agiorgitiko, 15% ABV) hails from the northern Greek inland region of Drama in Macedonia -- far from the grape variety's traditional home. Ktima Pavlidis was founded in 1998 by Christoforos Pavlidis and works with a clear terroir-driven philosophy: estate vineyards, manual night harvesting, parcel-by-parcel vinification, and underground cellars. The single vineyard site Perichora is situated on the slopes of Mount Menoikio at approximately 400 meters elevation, with a south-easterly exposure, on terra rossa clay soils with limestone and marl -- a study published in 2025 on PGI Drama confirms that site significantly influences wine quality there. The 2018 vintage was aged for 14 months in French oak, followed by 12 months of bottle maturation. Production is limited. Falstaff awarded 92 points; at Mundus Vini, the 2018 won the special distinction "Best of Show Greece Red." At 15% alcohol, we are firmly in serious red wine territory, as we also know from Drama with Syrah and Tempranillo. Despite the high alcohol, it surprised with good freshness on the palate. Unfortunately, my bottle was no longer intact on the nose, which is why I must refrain from describing the bouquet here -- Falstaff mentions herbal spice, nougat, ripe plums, and tobacco. Based on the palate profile and external references: 91+ points. (This result is something of a rehabilitation for the estate, given that we only awarded the 2016 vintage 87+ points five years after harvest, though we did have some lingering doubts about that particular bottle.) A very good example of how convincingly Agiorgitiko can perform outside of Nemea.