Mega Spileo Assyrtiko 2022 (Greece) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is yet another lovely white wine from Greece. This refreshing Assyrtiko arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on June 8th.

Like the lovely 2022 Mega Spileo Malagousia that I enjoyed last month, this white wine is also produced by the historic and significant winery and monastery - Mega Spileo Estate.

Situated near the town of Kalavryta, in the Achaea region of northern Peloponnese, Mega Spileo holds a special place in Greek orthodox tradition and history. It is built into the side of a steep cliff overlooking the Vouraikos Gorge and offers stunning natural views of the landscape. Originally established in 362 A.D. by brothers who were also monks, the monastery added vine cultivation to its lands around the mid-15th century. The grapes were used by the monks to produce wine for both the Holy Communion and a nutritious dietary supplement. During this period, a massive barrel called "Angelis" was acquired and used to store 12 tonnes of wine - a barrel which still survives to this day.

In 1999, the latest chapter of the long and storied history of Mega Spileo Estate began after brothers Giannis and Theodoros Anastasiou received a long-term lease on the Estate from the Monastery. The vision of the Anastasiou brothers was to revitalize the historical vineyard using a team of experienced oenologists and wine producers. In order to create a completely new and unique estate, the team re-planted the vines and implemented best practices in the vineyard and winery, including protecting the environment and using sustainable agricultural techniques. The process led to the cultivation of high-quality grapes, which in turn to the production of high-quality wines, resulting in Mega Spileo Estate becoming a significant point of reference for Greek wine production.

Today, Mega Spileo Estate is situated just a few minutes away from the historic monastery, and within the UNESCO Chelmos-Vouraikos Global Geopark, which covers an area of 647 sq. km. It was included as part of the UNESCO program in 2015 thanks to its unique characters - a combination of rare geological, natural, and cultural elements. The area surrounding the Estate has tall mountains, plateaus, sheer gorges, ancient trees, wild herbs, flowers, and cool breezes, all of which come together to create a unique micro-climate.

Crafted with 100% Assytriko, the grapes were grown on mountain vineyards in Aigialeia and Kalavryta, at an altitude of more than 700 metres above sea level. After harvesting the grapes in late-September, it underwent a static racking of the grape must for 48 hours, followed by a low-temperature, alcoholic fermentation using selected yeasts. The wine stayed in contact with its fine lees for 3 months in stainless steel tanks, after which one-third of the wine was transferred into oak barrels and matured for a further 3 months, then reassembled and bottled. Let's see how this 2022 Assyrtiko from Greece is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MEGA SPILEO ASSYRTIKO 2022 - PGI Achaia, Greece (#31680) (XD) - $22.95
Fresh and fragrant, the medium-high intensity nose offers lovely, slightly perfumed aromas of ripe lemon citrus, orchard fruit, apple, pear, and mineral notes with touches of spice. It's mid-weighted on the palate with a fine, textural mouthfeel that supports the ripe, lightly honeyed flavours of lemon citrus, leesy mineral, ripe apple/pear, grapefruit, and mild spice notes. Complex and nicely balanced with fresh, lively acidity, and a gently chalky textured mouthfeel. Spice notes taper to leesy minerals and lime citrus on the long, textured finish. Chill and enjoy this highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Mega Spileo can be found at the LCBO, or ordered through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

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Mega Spileo Malagousia 2022 (Greece) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely Malagousia from Greece. It is a brand-new arrival at the LCBO and was featured as part of the theme on Classic Euro Regions in the May 11 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Like the excellent 2015 Mega Spileo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon I enjoyed last month, this white wine is made by the same producer - Mega Spileo Estate. The historic and significant Mega Spileo monastery and winery is situated near the town of Kalavryta, within the Achaea region of the Peloponnese. As the oldest and continuously occupied institution in Greece, and the 2nd oldest in the world, the estate is built inside a large cave overlooking the Vouraikos Gorge and provides stunning, natural surroundings. The monastery was established in 362 A.D. by brothers who were also monks, with vine cultivation entering the picture from the mid-15th century onwards, as the monks grew grapes to produce wine for the Holy Communion and as a nutritious dietary supplement. During this period, a massive barrel called "Angelis" was acquired and used to store 12 tonnes of wine - it still survives to this day.

The latest chapter of Mega Spileo Estate began in 1999, when brothers Giannis & Theodoros Anastasiou received a long-term lease on the Estate from the Monastery. The Anastasiou brothers are guided by their vision to revitalize the historical vineyard using a team of experienced wine producers and oenologists who re-planted vines and implemented best practices, including sustainable agriculture and environmental protection, for the cultivation and production of high-quality wine to create a completely new and unique estate. Cultivating both local and international varieties, Mega Spileo produces top-quality products that have become a significant point of reference for Greek wine production.

Crafted with 100% Malagousia, this white wine was organically cultivated in vineyards on the Trapeza Plateau and in Vrosthena. The Trapeza vineyard is located at Agios Nikolaos, in Pera Kampos at Trapeza, Diakopto, along the northern coast of the Achaia region in West Greece. The Trapeza vineyard is planted on an amphitheatrical plateau at an altitude of about 830 metres, overlooking the Corinthian Gulf, and is a passage for visitors to the Palaeomonastero of Agios Nikolaos, and is connected to the mountain village of Trapeza via a provincial road. Spread over 13 hectares, the vineyard has sand and clay soil of varying depths and has good humidity retention. The ground also has a striking red colour due to iron oxides in the soil. The local microclimate is mild and quite dry, especially from April onwards, and is directly exposed to winds from all directions. With its proximity to the sea, the grapes benefit from both mild local temperatures and humidity, and allow the grapes to ripen earlier.

The Malagousia in this wine also comes from the Vrosthena vineyard, which is located at Apidies of Lofos, a small mountain village near Diakopto in Achaia Prefecture. This 2 hectare vineyard is planted at an altitude of between 800 and 850 metres, on a northward slope of sand and clay with good depth and drainage, with views of the Trapeza plateau and the Corinthian Gulf. Exposure and altitude form the mild local microclimate, with stable temperatures and year-round rains allowing the grapes to ripen properly.

After harvesting the grapes in early-September, it underwent a pre-fermentation extraction for about 3 hours, followed by static racking and alcoholic fermentation using selected yeasts at low temperatures in stainless steel tanks. The wine stayed in contact with its fine lees, while gently stirred, for 4 to 5 weeks. Let's see how this 2022 Malagousia from Greece is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MEGA SPILEO MALAGOUSIA 2022 - PGI Achaia, Greece (#36837) (XD) - $19.95
Fresh and fragrant, the lifted, highly aromatic nose offers pretty aromas melon, lychee, honeysuckle, floral, and grapefruit citrus. On the dry, medium-bodied palate it has gently spicy notes followed by melon, honeysuckle, floral, lychee, and citrusy aromas replays on the flavour profile. It has juicy, bracing, and tangy acidity, while leesy mineral notes with some pleasing bitterness linger on the juicy, lightly chalky textured finish, with very good length. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Mega Spileo Estate can be found at the LCBO, or ordered through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

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Mega Spileo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (Greece) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent, single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Greece that landed at the LCBO on the weekend as part of the March 30 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Mega Spileo Estate, an historic and significant monastery and winery situated near the town of Kalavryta, within the Achaea region of the Peloponnese in Southern Greece. Mega Spileo is intrinsically bound to one of the most significant religious monuments and reference points in Greek history, as it is the oldest continuously occupied institution in Greece and the 2nd oldest in the world. The estate is built inside a large cave overlooking the Vouraikos Gorge and provides stunning, natural surroundings.

The Monastery was established in 362 A.D. by brothers and monks Symeon and Theodore, after they discovered a Holy icon of the Virgin Mary made of mastic and wax deep within the cliffside cave. The monastery has functioned continuously ever since and is a beacon of Greek Orthodoxy despite the major destruction it suffered from several fires, the last of which was lit by German occupation forces in 1934. Miraculously, the Holy Icon has survived through all these disasters untouched.

Mega Spileo Estate owns 4 vineyards, but the first was The Great Vineyard, which was also a dependency of the monastery. From the mid-15th century onwards, the monks grew grapes on the Great Vineyard and produced wine for the Holy Communion and as a nutritious dietary supplement. The monks built a wine press, sleeping quarters, and chapel on the estate, and produced wine for themselves, visitors to the monastery, and for inhabitants of the wider region. The grapes were harvested and pressed in the vineyard, then the juice was transported by mule to the monastery where it would be stored in barrels in the cellar. It was during this time that the Monastery acquired two massive barrels and named them "Angelis" and "Stamatis", in honour of the coopers who made them. Each of these barrels could store 12 tonnes of wine. Unfortunately, Stamatis was destroyed in one of the great fires, while Angelis survives to the present day, along with some other smaller barrels.

During the period of Turkish rule, the Monastery was protected because Sultan Mehmed had promulgated a decree to protect it. When the Greek War of Independence broke out in 1821, resistance fighters sought refuge at the Monastery, where they could find money, bread, cheese and wine. The Mega Spileo Monastery played a crucial role throughout the war as it bolstered the faith and heroic efforts of the Greeks. Up until 1870, the monk population exceeded 200 people, while demand for foodstuffs and wine increased dramatically. Around 1930, the number of monks decreased dramatically, which meant that there were fewer hands to cultivate grapes, which led to reduced production of wine. By the mid-1950s, the Estate was completely abandoned because there were so few monks to tend to the grapes.

Today, Mega Spileo is guided by brothers Giannis & Theodoros Anastasiou. This new chapter began in 1999, when the Anastasiou brothers received a long-term lease on the Estate from the Monastery. The Anastasiou brothers are guided by their vision to revitalize the historical vineyard using a team of experienced wine producers and oenologists who re-planted vines and implemented best practices, including sustainable agriculture and environmental protection, for the cultivation and production of high-quality wine to create a completely new and unique Estate - The Mega Spileo Estate. Cultivating both local and international varieties, Mega Spileo produces top-quality products that have become a significant point of reference for Greek wine production.

This red wine is crafted using 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was organically cultivated at their Mega Spileo Estate. It is from 3 hectares of vines at their Great Vineyard, situated at 820 metres above sea level and planted on clay, sand and pebble soil. After harvesting the grapes in mid-October, the grapes were pressed and remained in tanks until fermentation was completed. The wine was then transferred into French oak barrels to undergo malolactic fermentation, followed by maturation in barrels for at least 2 years. It was then bottled and spent 2 years in bottle for further maturation. To preserve its natural character, the wine did not undergo stabilization and filtering. Let's see how this 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from Greece is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MEGA SPILEO ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 - PGI Achaia, Greece (#539924) (XD) - $36.95
The medium-high to highly aromatic nose is intense and a touch funky brett off the top, revealing complex and maturing dark berry, black currant, dried herbs, and Asian spice aromas with hints of cassis, dried berry, savoury earth, and oak spice. On the dry, full-bodied palate it offers spicy and maturing dark berry, black currant, cassis, dried herbs, and spice flavours which are supported by fresh acidity. It's firmly structured with dusty textured and drying tannins. Dark berry notes give way to savoury earth flavours on the long, dry finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Limited availability of other lovely wines by Mega Spileo Estate can be found at the LCBO, while the entire range can be ordered through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

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