Comments on: Greek wines receive further boost http://www.elloinos.com/marketing/greek-wines-receive-further-boost Linking top Greek wine producers, wine merchants abroad, and wine consumers. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:13:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: elloinos http://www.elloinos.com/marketing/greek-wines-receive-further-boost/comment-page-1#comment-1156 elloinos Fri, 16 Apr 2010 05:19:06 +0000 http://www.elloinos.com/?p=971#comment-1156 Naomi, this might be a tough one to answer - my best guess is that it might be from the region of Mount Olympus in the north of Larissa. White wines might come from Krania or Tyrnavos. Some producer names: Karipidi, Katsaros, Tsantali, Vasdavanos. Naomi, this might be a tough one to answer – my best guess is that it might be from the region of Mount Olympus in the north of Larissa. White wines might come from Krania or Tyrnavos. Some producer names: Karipidi, Katsaros, Tsantali, Vasdavanos.

]]> By: Naomi http://www.elloinos.com/marketing/greek-wines-receive-further-boost/comment-page-1#comment-1155 Naomi Fri, 16 Apr 2010 03:05:27 +0000 http://www.elloinos.com/?p=971#comment-1155 I hope someone here can help me. I attended a party at Gracie Mansion to celebrate Greek Independence day and the parade this coming sunday in Manhattan. Anyway, they had a white wine that said Olympus (vertically) along the bottle in blue lettering on a clear bottle. Silly me, I thought that was the brand, however I can't find it anywhere. I would appreciate any insight on this wine. Thank you. I hope someone here can help me. I attended a party at Gracie Mansion to celebrate Greek Independence day and the parade this coming sunday in Manhattan. Anyway, they had a white wine that said Olympus (vertically) along the bottle in blue lettering on a clear bottle. Silly me, I thought that was the brand, however I can’t find it anywhere. I would appreciate any insight on this wine. Thank you.

]]> By: elloinos http://www.elloinos.com/marketing/greek-wines-receive-further-boost/comment-page-1#comment-667 elloinos Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:22:15 +0000 http://www.elloinos.com/?p=971#comment-667 Kosta, I agree on the Parparoussis Muscat - and I prefer this to his Mavrodaphne. I believe strongly that the sweet wines of Greece are one of the true bargains available on a global basis. Mark simply did not have the time to visit all producers and regions when he was in Greece, but the sweet wines from Samos were covered in the August online edition of the wine advocate, they did also score highly. Kosta, I agree on the Parparoussis Muscat – and I prefer this to his Mavrodaphne. I believe strongly that the sweet wines of Greece are one of the true bargains available on a global basis. Mark simply did not have the time to visit all producers and regions when he was in Greece, but the sweet wines from Samos were covered in the August online edition of the wine advocate, they did also score highly.

]]> By: Kostas Katsoulieris http://www.elloinos.com/marketing/greek-wines-receive-further-boost/comment-page-1#comment-665 Kostas Katsoulieris Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:01:30 +0000 http://www.elloinos.com/?p=971#comment-665 Markus, Having seen the wines rated, I too was glad to see Parparoussis Muscat scoreed so highly as well as Achaia Clauss getting some respect after so many years in the doldrums. I believe Mavrodaphne dessert wines are much maligned and misunderstood - like Retsina they are part of Greece's heritage. Like Retsina I am glad there are winemakers out there who will seek to improve on old traditions and make modern styles of these wines (eg. Mercouri & Cavino for Mavrodaphne / Gaia & Kechris for Retsina). I was surprised however by the absence of any Samos dessert wines and any syrahs (bar Hatzimichalis & Olympus). Perhaps MS didn't get the opportunity to taste any other Greek syrahs or Samos ones. Also mpravo to Yianni for raising once again Greek's unfortunate love of conspiracy theories as well as the prejudices I am afraid some Greek wine journalists suffer from. Sometimes I cannot believe the stuff some of them write, the scores they give certain wines and seriously question whether they ever taste wines blind. I hope my fears (expressed above) are not realised as that would be shame. I also agree with Yianni that they should accept the challenge and strive to hit the 96 and over mark. Markus,
Having seen the wines rated, I too was glad to see Parparoussis Muscat scoreed so highly as well as Achaia Clauss getting some respect after so many years in the doldrums. I believe Mavrodaphne dessert wines are much maligned and misunderstood – like Retsina they are part of Greece’s heritage. Like Retsina I am glad there are winemakers out there who will seek to improve on old traditions and make modern styles of these wines (eg. Mercouri & Cavino for Mavrodaphne / Gaia & Kechris for Retsina). I was surprised however by the absence of any Samos dessert wines and any syrahs (bar Hatzimichalis & Olympus). Perhaps MS didn’t get the opportunity to taste any other Greek syrahs or Samos ones.

Also mpravo to Yianni for raising once again Greek’s unfortunate love of conspiracy theories as well as the prejudices I am afraid some Greek wine journalists suffer from. Sometimes I cannot believe the stuff some of them write, the scores they give certain wines and seriously question whether they ever taste wines blind. I hope my fears (expressed above) are not realised as that would be shame. I also agree with Yianni that they should accept the challenge and strive to hit the 96 and over mark.

]]> By: elloinos http://www.elloinos.com/marketing/greek-wines-receive-further-boost/comment-page-1#comment-661 elloinos Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:26:15 +0000 http://www.elloinos.com/?p=971#comment-661 Yianni, thank you very much for your insightful comment. I have also come to appreciate Mark Squires very much. If it were for him alone, Greek wines might even be covered in more detail. I agree 100% that Mark has done exceptional groundwork, and a lot of effort has gone into his notes. This has little to do with "just" tasting the wines, he has developed the knowledge for the grape varieties, regions etc first, then he reported about the wines. Yianni, thank you very much for your insightful comment. I have also come to appreciate Mark Squires very much. If it were for him alone, Greek wines might even be covered in more detail. I agree 100% that Mark has done exceptional groundwork, and a lot of effort has gone into his notes. This has little to do with “just” tasting the wines, he has developed the knowledge for the grape varieties, regions etc first, then he reported about the wines.

]]> By: elloinos http://www.elloinos.com/marketing/greek-wines-receive-further-boost/comment-page-1#comment-655 elloinos Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:21:41 +0000 http://www.elloinos.com/?p=971#comment-655 I found this link where all Greek wines are listed with their scores: http://insider.blogg.de/eintrag.php?id=666 I found this link where all Greek wines are listed with their scores: http://insider.blogg.de/eintrag.php?id=666

]]> By: tobias cooks! http://www.elloinos.com/marketing/greek-wines-receive-further-boost/comment-page-1#comment-653 tobias cooks! Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:05:36 +0000 http://www.elloinos.com/?p=971#comment-653 Could you post which ones that were. I do not have access to the Parker site. cheers Tobias Could you post which ones that were. I do not have access to the Parker site.
cheers
Tobias

]]> By: Yiannis Papadakis http://www.elloinos.com/marketing/greek-wines-receive-further-boost/comment-page-1#comment-652 Yiannis Papadakis Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:57:40 +0000 http://www.elloinos.com/?p=971#comment-652 I was positively impressed for the second time by Mark Squire's professionalism. Whether somebody agrees with his reviews or not is a personal matter, but what is beyond any dought, is his thoroughness, the attention he pays to each wine and the amount of information he collects while approaching a wine region and even every individual wine. I was upset by certain Greek journalists' negative reactions after the first reviews on Greek wines were published on the Wine Advocate, simply because they deviated in various ways from their prejudice and pre-occupation. In certain cases I felt that they are seing international wine reviewers as a threat to their monopoly in offering information and opinions on Greek wines. Now on the reviews themselves. 1. In general they are on the same direction as the December 2008 reviews, in the sence that the winners are: Dessert wines, Santorini whites, Xinomavros. However Mark Squires (unlike Wine Spectator's Kim Markus) did not ignore certain interesting (to his opinion) wines made from international grape varieties, which he scored 90 or 89. 2. As on December 2008, the 3 top scoring wines are sweet. I was personally glad to see Parparoussis Muskat of Rio Patras 2003 among them. 3. For the second time he rated high (91 this time for the 2006 vintage vs. 90 last year for the 2005 vintage), the Naoussa Xinomavro from Karydas, another personal favorite of mine that is almost totally ignored by the Greek wine press. 4. Once again no wine scored in the "extraordinary" range (96-100). This should be seen by Greek wine-makers as a challenge for higher achievments rather than as a result of a negative prejudice against them (please no more conspiracy theory...) 5. As is frequently the case, many highly regarded (within Greece) winemakers failed to reach the higher ranks, while others with lesser reputation (and profile) did much better. Thanks once again for your space and congratulations for your great job. Happy and fruitful New Year and Decade! I was positively impressed for the second time by Mark Squire’s professionalism. Whether somebody agrees with his reviews or not is a personal matter, but what is beyond any dought, is his thoroughness, the attention he pays to each wine and the amount of information he collects while approaching a wine region and even every individual wine.
I was upset by certain Greek journalists’ negative reactions after the first reviews on Greek wines were published on the Wine Advocate, simply because they deviated in various ways from their prejudice and pre-occupation. In certain cases I felt that they are seing international wine reviewers as a threat to their monopoly in offering information and opinions on Greek wines.
Now on the reviews themselves.
1. In general they are on the same direction as the December 2008 reviews, in the sence that the winners are: Dessert wines, Santorini whites, Xinomavros. However Mark Squires (unlike Wine Spectator’s Kim Markus) did not ignore certain interesting (to his opinion) wines made from international grape varieties, which he scored 90 or 89.
2. As on December 2008, the 3 top scoring wines are sweet. I was personally glad to see Parparoussis Muskat of Rio Patras 2003 among them.
3. For the second time he rated high (91 this time for the 2006 vintage vs. 90 last year for the 2005 vintage), the Naoussa Xinomavro from Karydas, another personal favorite of mine that is almost totally ignored by the Greek wine press.
4. Once again no wine scored in the “extraordinary” range (96-100). This should be seen by Greek wine-makers as a challenge for higher achievments rather than as a result of a negative prejudice against them (please no more conspiracy theory…)
5. As is frequently the case, many highly regarded (within Greece) winemakers failed to reach the higher ranks, while others with lesser reputation (and profile) did much better.
Thanks once again for your space and congratulations for your great job.
Happy and fruitful New Year and Decade!

]]> By: elloinos http://www.elloinos.com/marketing/greek-wines-receive-further-boost/comment-page-1#comment-643 elloinos Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:40:17 +0000 http://www.elloinos.com/?p=971#comment-643 Kosta, the Wine Spectator might shift their focus once they see a more general shift in perception, which might still be quite some time away. But in the US, you find publications like the Wine & Spirits Magazine who are on top and have been reporting about Greek wines for years. I believe it is more important to reach readers through the Internet. Kosta, the Wine Spectator might shift their focus once they see a more general shift in perception, which might still be quite some time away. But in the US, you find publications like the Wine & Spirits Magazine who are on top and have been reporting about Greek wines for years. I believe it is more important to reach readers through the Internet.

]]> By: elloinos http://www.elloinos.com/marketing/greek-wines-receive-further-boost/comment-page-1#comment-641 elloinos Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:28:12 +0000 http://www.elloinos.com/?p=971#comment-641 Kosta, thank you for your wishes. I am glad that Greek wines finally receive more publicity, the last few weeks bode well for 2010. I do not think that the winemakers will rest on their laurels, there simply is too much hunger for improvement. The scores by Mark Squires did not surprise me, I know that he is a huge believer in the top sweet wines (actually he has called them to be one of the bargains in the world). It is also no secret that he sees a great future for Xinomavro. I am glad that a critic of his caliber shows such a honest interest in Greek wines. Kosta, thank you for your wishes. I am glad that Greek wines finally receive more publicity, the last few weeks bode well for 2010. I do not think that the winemakers will rest on their laurels, there simply is too much hunger for improvement. The scores by Mark Squires did not surprise me, I know that he is a huge believer in the top sweet wines (actually he has called them to be one of the bargains in the world). It is also no secret that he sees a great future for Xinomavro. I am glad that a critic of his caliber shows such a honest interest in Greek wines.

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