Sunday, January 4, 2026 red wine review is a lovely Xinomavro (ksee-NOH-mah-vroh) from Naoussa in northern Greece. A perennial favourite, this latest vintage arrived at the LCBO in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, with plenty of bottles still available for purchase across Ontario.
It is produced by one of Greece's most historic and influential wineries - Boutari. It was established by Ioannis Boutaris with a winery bearing his name in 1879 in Naoussa, Macedonia in northern Greece. By 1906, Mr. Boutaris built the city's first privately-owned winery and retail cellar, while also launching the production of the first Greek red wine that was bottled under the now-renowned "Naoussa Boutari" label.
In the mid-1930s, Stelios Boutaris, son of Ioannis, took over the reins of the family winery and began exporting their wines to export markets, while also opening a second winery in Naoussa. In 1968, Giannis and Konstantinos Boutaris, the two sons of Stelios took over the winery and propelled it to new heights and shaped it into what it is today, including a shift to focus on viticulture. In 1978, Boutari inaugurated their new, state-of-the-art winery in Stenimachos, Naoussa, which remains the centre of their production, ageing, and bottling processes to this day. Boutari's success culminated with the Naoussa Boutari label making Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2013 list.
In 2022, Boutari Wineries turned a new chapter when it became a member of Sterner Stenhus Greece group. While Boutari is now under new ownership, the vision for the winery is to respect the historic name that is synonymous with Greek wine, while also promising to continue the long-standing tradition of Boutari wineries and develop them further.
The wineries of Boutari are located in Greece's most important wine-producing regions, which allows the producer to explore the potential and specificities of each region and to highlight both the region itself and its varieties. Arguably, Naoussa is the most important Greek wine region and Boutari's headquarters are in Naoussa, a region of Macedonia on the eastern edge of Vermio. Boutari's journey began in Naoussa, and with it, Greek wine was introduced to the world. As a key player in Greek winemaking and one of the country's most historic wineries, viticulture in the Naoussa of northern Greece is deeply rooted in their past. Boutari was instrumental in the preservation of the indigenous Xinomavro grape, as well as the promotion and recognition of the variety and the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) zone of Naoussa. All of this was achieved by producing excellent and historically significant wines.
Boutari has also taken steps to introduce sustainability practices by optimizing the vineyard and wine processes in order to produce wines of endearing taste, identity, and character. In their vineyards, Boutari applies organic farming principles, while respecting their environmental footprint. Moreover, they treat the vine as part of the ecosystem and focus on strengthening its natural defences and resilience.
First bottled at the beginning of the 20th century, this red wine is the most emblematic wine of modern Greek wine history. This wine is also one of the first Greek red bottled PDO wines and constitutes a landmark for red wines in Greece. Like the previous vintage - the lovely 2021 Boutari Naoussa Xinomavro that I enjoyed last year - this red wine is also crafted with 100% Xinomavro, although it doesn't mention this anywhere on the front label and is stated in quite small letters on the back label. To vinify this wine, the grapes were cold-macerated for 24 hours, with a small percentage bled off for rosé production. It underwent a controlled alcoholic fermentation with selected yeast strains at 20°C–27°C, with gentle extraction with few pumpovers, and was followed by malolactic fermentation. It was aged for 12 months in 5th- and 6th-use French oak barrels, and filtered using sheet filtration prior to bottling.
The growing season in Naoussa in 2022 began intensely cold, with intervals of rain, which resulted in increased bud fertility and the ensuing increase in yields. March and April were colder and wetter than average, with a later bud break, while temperatures returned to typical by early May. The summer ripening season was mostly mild, except for a heatwave in the first half of August, while September began with notable rainfall, along with typically high temperatures during the day and low temperatures at night. From a vintage that produced very good to excellent results, let's see how this 2022 Xinomavro from Naoussa, Greece, is tasting tonight...
This 100% Xinomavro has a medium+ intensity nose that seems a bit shy initially, offering an enticing mix of sun-dried tomato, rose petals, spice, ripe red cherry, and savoury earth aromas accented with leafy herbs. The medium+ bodied palate is well-structured with ripe tannins and fresh acidity supporting the red cherry, rose floral, sun-dried tomato, and leafy herb flavours in a nicely balanced profile. More savoury with earth, cedary oak, and spice notes on the mid-palate, alongside a crisp mouthfeel and gently chalky textured tannins. Sun-dried tomato, cherry, and rose florals taper to earthy notes on the long, savoury, and mineral-tinged finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts
A few wines by Boutari are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.
It is produced by one of Greece's most historic and influential wineries - Boutari. It was established by Ioannis Boutaris with a winery bearing his name in 1879 in Naoussa, Macedonia in northern Greece. By 1906, Mr. Boutaris built the city's first privately-owned winery and retail cellar, while also launching the production of the first Greek red wine that was bottled under the now-renowned "Naoussa Boutari" label.
In the mid-1930s, Stelios Boutaris, son of Ioannis, took over the reins of the family winery and began exporting their wines to export markets, while also opening a second winery in Naoussa. In 1968, Giannis and Konstantinos Boutaris, the two sons of Stelios took over the winery and propelled it to new heights and shaped it into what it is today, including a shift to focus on viticulture. In 1978, Boutari inaugurated their new, state-of-the-art winery in Stenimachos, Naoussa, which remains the centre of their production, ageing, and bottling processes to this day. Boutari's success culminated with the Naoussa Boutari label making Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2013 list.
In 2022, Boutari Wineries turned a new chapter when it became a member of Sterner Stenhus Greece group. While Boutari is now under new ownership, the vision for the winery is to respect the historic name that is synonymous with Greek wine, while also promising to continue the long-standing tradition of Boutari wineries and develop them further.
The wineries of Boutari are located in Greece's most important wine-producing regions, which allows the producer to explore the potential and specificities of each region and to highlight both the region itself and its varieties. Arguably, Naoussa is the most important Greek wine region and Boutari's headquarters are in Naoussa, a region of Macedonia on the eastern edge of Vermio. Boutari's journey began in Naoussa, and with it, Greek wine was introduced to the world. As a key player in Greek winemaking and one of the country's most historic wineries, viticulture in the Naoussa of northern Greece is deeply rooted in their past. Boutari was instrumental in the preservation of the indigenous Xinomavro grape, as well as the promotion and recognition of the variety and the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) zone of Naoussa. All of this was achieved by producing excellent and historically significant wines.
Boutari has also taken steps to introduce sustainability practices by optimizing the vineyard and wine processes in order to produce wines of endearing taste, identity, and character. In their vineyards, Boutari applies organic farming principles, while respecting their environmental footprint. Moreover, they treat the vine as part of the ecosystem and focus on strengthening its natural defences and resilience.
First bottled at the beginning of the 20th century, this red wine is the most emblematic wine of modern Greek wine history. This wine is also one of the first Greek red bottled PDO wines and constitutes a landmark for red wines in Greece. Like the previous vintage - the lovely 2021 Boutari Naoussa Xinomavro that I enjoyed last year - this red wine is also crafted with 100% Xinomavro, although it doesn't mention this anywhere on the front label and is stated in quite small letters on the back label. To vinify this wine, the grapes were cold-macerated for 24 hours, with a small percentage bled off for rosé production. It underwent a controlled alcoholic fermentation with selected yeast strains at 20°C–27°C, with gentle extraction with few pumpovers, and was followed by malolactic fermentation. It was aged for 12 months in 5th- and 6th-use French oak barrels, and filtered using sheet filtration prior to bottling.
The growing season in Naoussa in 2022 began intensely cold, with intervals of rain, which resulted in increased bud fertility and the ensuing increase in yields. March and April were colder and wetter than average, with a later bud break, while temperatures returned to typical by early May. The summer ripening season was mostly mild, except for a heatwave in the first half of August, while September began with notable rainfall, along with typically high temperatures during the day and low temperatures at night. From a vintage that produced very good to excellent results, let's see how this 2022 Xinomavro from Naoussa, Greece, is tasting tonight...
Tasting Note:
BOUTARI NAOUSSA RED 2022 - PDO Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece (#23218) (XD) - $19.95This 100% Xinomavro has a medium+ intensity nose that seems a bit shy initially, offering an enticing mix of sun-dried tomato, rose petals, spice, ripe red cherry, and savoury earth aromas accented with leafy herbs. The medium+ bodied palate is well-structured with ripe tannins and fresh acidity supporting the red cherry, rose floral, sun-dried tomato, and leafy herb flavours in a nicely balanced profile. More savoury with earth, cedary oak, and spice notes on the mid-palate, alongside a crisp mouthfeel and gently chalky textured tannins. Sun-dried tomato, cherry, and rose florals taper to earthy notes on the long, savoury, and mineral-tinged finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts
A few wines by Boutari are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.
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