On Monday, February 17, we were delighted to host a vertical tasting of Zacharias Winery’s Lexis Nemea. Our guests, a gathering of winelovers and oenologists, tasted 4 different vintages of Nemea’s Agiorgitiko, the most recent release, 2022, then 2019, 2017 and last but not least 2016. All the wines were sourced directly from our cellar!
Zacharias Winery's Lexis Nemea Vertical Tasting
We hosted a vertical tasting of Zacharias Winery’s Lexis Nemea at Cinque Wine & Deli Monastiraki. A taste of Peloponnese in the heart of Athens!
Lexis Nemea comes from 60-year-old vines grown in the ‘Tsintari’ vineyard in Nemea, Peloponnese, near the ancient Acropolis of Fliounda.
The wine is made with classic red wine vinification. Six days of cold maceration and then maceration for 20 more days at 20-25°C. After that, the wine is transferred in French oak barrels for 12 months. It is bottled unfiltered.
The first wine our guests tasted was the latest release, the 2022 vintage. It has a deep ruby color and aromas of unripe red fruits, like cranberry and raspberry, which are complimented by notes of the barrel aging, like clove and cinnamon and also some herbal hints like sage and black pepper. On the palate, it has medium body with strong tannins and fruity aftertaste.
Afterwards, we carried on with the vintage of 2019, which is still very young. It had aromas of strawberry and black cherries, with notes of cloves and chocolate with some hints of mint. It presents notes of chocolate and vanilla. On the palate, it has medium tannins, a well-structured body, and a concentrated, fruity aftertaste.
Next in line, the vintage of 2017, was better matured than the previous two vintages. It has aromas of wild cherries and blackberries, as well as sour cherries. With notes of chocolate and vanilla. On the palate, it has medium tannins, with very good body and very concentrated, fruity aftertaste.
Last but not least, the vintage of 2016, being the oldest one, it required some time to open up and breathe, made an impression on our guests with its lovely color of pale garnet. Its aromas consist of dried black fruits and forest fruit marmalade, notes of black chocolate, vanilla and some nutty hints like hazelnut. Surprising taste on the palate, with velvety tannins, medium body and flavors of dried black fruits, with a long finish.
The tasting was accompanied by a plate of cured meats, yellow cheese, dried fruits and a delicate chocolate-covered dried fig.
Our concluding remarks for the night:
The 2016 vintage was deemed the best of the line. The 2017 vintage came up second, while the young 2022 vintage was third to our taste, followed up by the 2019 vintage.
We found out that all the wines were quite warm due to the high alcohol content, 14,5% vol.
In spite of all the differences between the vintages, the Lexis Nemea maintains its high quality across the years and can be aged for at least a decade in cellar conditions. Buy the 2022 vintage now and be patient—age it and experience the evolution for yourself!
Of course, we’d be elated to guide you through our curated selection of Greek indigenous grape varieties in person. After all, Cinque Wine & Deli is all about creating connections over a glass of good Greek wine, discussing the sensory extravaganza over rows of glasses ready for wine flights and answering your questions with our expertise and experience!
Visit us today and let us whisk you away on a gastronomic adventure through the treasures of Greece. Cheers to good food, good company, and unforgettable memories! Yamas!