Boutari Assyrtiko 2025 (Greece) - Wine Review

I enjoyed the 2023 Boutari The Authentic Assyrtiko nearly a year ago, and while tonight's white wine review is the latest vintage of the same wine, it does come to us with slightly simplified branding by removing "The Authentic" from the label. Nevertheless, this is a lovely white wine that arrived at the LCBO just over a week ago in the July 18 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by the historic, renowned, and well-respected Boutari wine company that was established in 1879 by Ioannis Boutaris in Naoussa, Macedonia, in Northern Greece. As one of Greece's most influential and important wineries, Ioannis built Naoussa's first privately-owned winery and retail cellar in 1906, while also launching the production of the first Greek red wine that was bottled under the now-renowned "Naoussa Boutari" label.

Boutari was passed down along family lines from father to son with Stelios Boutaris, son of Ioannis, taking over the reins in the mid-1930s and laying the foundation of the wine company for years to come. In 1968, Giannis and Konstantinos Boutaris, the two sons of Stelios, took over the winery and ventured into vine growing by purchasing a vineyard in Imathia, in Central Macedonia of Northern Greece, and took the family business to new heights, including building their new state-of-the-art winery in 1978 in Stenimachos, Naoussa, a facility that would become their flagship winery as a centre for production, bottling, and ageing.

During the 1980s, Boutari continued to grow and expand while highlighting Greece's various unique wine regions and vine-growing qualities, along with experimenting and cultivating both Greek and international varieties to create a series of experimental wines, some of which remain in the current portfolio. In 2022, a new chapter in the story of Boutari wineries began as they were acquired by holding company Hellenic Wineries, with Elias and Thomas Georgiadis as key investors. While no longer family-owned, the investor group has promised to preserve the heritage and further develop the Boutari name, while also continuing the long tradition of Boutari wineries.

Like the last vintage I tasted, this Assyrtiko is from Boutari's "Varieties" range, which focuses on Greek and international varietal wines from Greece's main wine producing regions and is crafted with passion and love. To craft this wine, the Assyrtiko grapes were selected from the mountainous regions of Florina and Pieria, in Macedonia of Northern Greece. A combination of both berry testing and analytical data determined the time of harvest in each vineyard, while all harvesting took place during the lowest possible temperatures of the day. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes were strictly sorted manually, then underwent alcoholic fermentation at controlled temperatures using selected yeast strains. Upon completing fermentation, the wine remained in tank for aging by stirring its fine lees until it was bottled.

The growing season in Northern Greece in 2025 was a return to relative normality after a couple of tough harvests marked by major weather events. In 2025, the conditions were generally typical and featured no extreme weather phenomena, with June and July being notably hot and dry, while a diurnal temperature drop of 10°C nightly helped preserve acidity. Cold and rainy conditions arrived at the appropriate time, while heat during the day and cold nights ensured that the grapes developed full aromatics and phenolic ripeness. From a very good to excellent vintage, let's see how this 2025 Assyrtiko from Macedonia in Northern Greece is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

BOUTARI ASSYRTIKO 2025 - PGI Macedonia, Greece (#44246) (XD) - $23.95
Fresh and slightly perfumed, the medium-high to high intensity nose offers engaging and complex aromas of yellow & white floral, lemon citrus, leesy mineral, yellow apple, and spice. The dry, medium-full bodied palate has a textured and slightly chewy mouthfeel with lovely, ripe, and gently honeyed flavours of yellow & white floral, lemon citrus, apple, leesy mineral and spice replays in a nicely balanced profile. Acids are juicy and well-balanced. Touches of pleasing, savoury bitterness appear on the mid-palate, and tapers to apple, lemon, and leesy minerals on the long, succulent, and juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Several other lovely wines by Boutari are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.