Pale straw color; lemon-lime, peach, grapefruit, pineapple, passion fruit, pear, crushed sea shells, minerality, saline on the nose and palate.
Dry, no tannins, very good acidity (3.23 pH). Medium-plus body, pleasing texture with slightly oily notes. Smooth, precise, easy drinker with extended finish. The 2022 vintage was a return to form after several challenging years on Santorini. Grapes fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The 2022 vintage included 50% free-run juice, with 80% full cluster to enhance structure and aromatics. After fermentation, wine spent five months on the lees to add rich texture and complexity. 14.5% ABV
Santorini is a special, unique place in the wine world. Because there is almost no rain on the island in the south Aegean Sea-Sea of Crete some 150 miles southeast of the Greece mainland. The island is made of volcanic soils. The soils lack clay and potassium, which enhances acidity and thwarts diseases. Irrigation is a signature. Vines are trained to become a ground-hugging hollow basket shape (kouloura) that allows the plants to obtain moisture from the mists and fogs from the sea. The basket shape also protects the grapes from fierce winds. This planting method not only nourishes the vines, it gives the wine distinct salinity and minerality, and protects the grapes from sunburn. Because of the isolation, most of Santorini’s vines are 60 years old or older, and when vine vigor declines, new cuttings are grafted on the ancient vine roots, so it is possible some vines are have roots that may be well more than 100 years old.
Domaine Sigalas was founded by Paris Sigalas in 1991 and now is a benchmark producer on the island. They had a lot to work with. The website notes: “Its vineyard is one of the oldest in the world and has been cultivated uninterruptedly for over three thousand years. The soil is volcanic and thanks to this peculiarity it is one of the rare vineyards that were not affected by phylloxera. Most of the varieties here are ancient, with Assyrtiko being the dominant variety (covering about 70% of the land under vine). Assyrtiko is a virtuous “multi-dynamic” or versatile variety that is now considered one of the most important white varieties in the European vineyard.”
Sigalas Santorini Assyrtiko 2022 is dense and ripe with impressive balance and signature Santorini assyrtiko crisp acidity and saline minerality. Excellent intensity, structure, and freshness. Impressively long finish. Exciting wine in comeback vintage on Santorini. Of course this pairs with seafood—grilled fish, scallops, fried calamari, and just about any other fish. Greek salads featuring briny olives and feta cheese. Salads with light sauces. Fried vegetables. Cheese—feta is classic, pecorino, kefalgraviera, halloumi. $44-48
