Domaine Katsos Valos Xinomavro

About Domaine Katsos Valos Xinomavro

Domaine Katsos Valos Xinomavro is ruby red with a medium body. An absolutely beautiful nose with luscious fresh raspberries, strawberries, red cherries, fresh tomato, and rose petals. On the palate, dried red fruit, fresh basil, thyme, and tomato paste with very evident tannin structure. Pair with ribeye steak, roasted ham, pheasant with mushroom duxelles, and hard-aged cheeses.

About Domaine Katsos

Domaine Katsaros is a small family enterprise established in 1985 in the traditional wine country of Krania, Mount Olympus, in Northern Greece. At 750 meters above sea level, this twenty-acre vineyard is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay. The main factors contributing to the superior quality of these award-winning wines are the regions’ mild winters, the sun-blessed, yet cool summers, and organic vineyard coupled with the limited yield.

About Xinomavro

Xinomavro (or Xynomavro) is a dark-skinned grape variety widely planted in northern Greece. It is also cultivated to a lesser extent, in the Republic of North Macedonia. The variety is highly regarded in its native Greece as the finest red wine the country has to offer. With its characteristically high tannin and acidity, Xinomavro is structurally one of the biggest red wines in the Mediterranean and indeed Europe. The word Xinomavro itself is a conjunction of the Greek words for acid and black, though this is often translated as black and sour. This gives some indication as to the flavor and structure of the wines made from the variety.

In youth, they remain true to their name, although Xinomavro wines can age gracefully for many years. Classic flavor characteristics include prune, strawberry, and sundried tomato. The grapes themselves are blue-black and grow in tight clusters. The size of berries varies within the different clones of Xinomavro, but all vines are late ripening and of fickle nature. Vintage variation is a significant factor to consider with regard to purchasing decisions. Year on year, the weather can play a large role in Xinomavro’s quality.

Naoussa is the most important appellation associated with the variety, as its wines are required to be 100-percent Xinomavro. These are held in high regard, and along with Nemea on the Peloponnese peninsula, are considered to be Greece’s greatest red wines.

Many comparisons have been made to the famous Barolo wines from Piedmont, Italy. There have even been past suggestions of a possible relationship between Xinomavro and Nebbiolo. This has been disproven by DNA testing. However, Xinomavro is widely planted across continental Greece. It is used in various other appellations, including Rapsani on the foothills of Mount Olympus. Here, it is blended with Stavroto and Krassato to make a dense, full-bodied red wine. Elsewhere, the variety is blended with more international varieties like Merlot and Syrah in an attempt to soften its austere nature and appeal to a wider audience. These are only allowed under the regional PGI designations as many proponents of the variety believe it should not be “diluted”. Oak maturation can help to tame Xinomavro, but care is needed as too much can overwhelm the wine. In some circles, the use of oak is eschewed, with locally-grown walnut used instead as it imparts no discernible flavor.