Winemaker Yiannis Flerianos did not hesitate when I asked which “one wine” was the most emblematic of the Semeli Estate brand – the 2021 Nemea Reserve – his first wine with Semeli Estate. It’s a dry red from 100 percent Agiorgitiko grapes. Say it with me. AYE-YOUR-GEE-TIKO, and look for it in many markets worldwide. It is also one of the Noble flagship grapes on the Peloponnese, and I’m betting it will become even more popular as Greece doubles down on its indigenous grape varieties.
The wine from the Nemea PDO presents deep purple and black fruited in color and aroma. The mouthfeel is smooth and silky with a long, persistent finish. Kudos to Yiannis and team for producing a price-value wine of this quality and drinkability at only four years of age. Drink now or hold for three to five years.
We’ll be enjoying this tonight in situ (that is, on the Peloponnese), with garlic-infused local olive oil and tomato linguine, and grilled oregano chicken. Yes, it’s good to be me with my family (most of the time 😉 You can read all about winemaker Yiannis in this Wine Characters interview.