Just two weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend a wine tasting at Mavrommatis, our favorite Greek wine shop on rue Censier in the 5th arrondissement. The wines that were proposed that day came from an estate in northwestern Greece called Kir-Yianna. I met Stellios Boutaris, the director of the vineyard, during the event.
Sommelier Eugenia Stefanidi served the wines — three whites and three reds — and gave a description of each. She hails from Greece and studied wine at SupAgro in Montpellier and the Cordon Bleu in Paris.
To accompany the wines, the Mavrommatis delicatessen next door served a plate of warm keftes (croquettes). Some were filled with cheese, some with spinach, and others with meat…all were appetizing! I expected nothing less, though — my wife and I often purchase Greek take-out food there when we don’t have the time or inclination to do our own cooking at home.
Selecting amongst the excellent wines that I tasted, I decided to purchase a bottle of Yianakohori 2010. Before serving it with dinner, my wife and I conducted our own tasting at home. We noted the following:
Color: deep red-purple
Aroma: ripe-red fruit
Mouth feel: medium-bodied, soft and round followed by a slight tannic sensation.
Flavors: there was a dispute about this — my wife perceived spiciness, whereas I perceived leather.
Despite our different opinions about the flavors, we both enjoyed this wine!
Kir-Yianna
Yianakohori Naoussa
GR-59200 Νaoussa
Mavrommatis
49, rue Censier
75005 Paris
Tags: Kir-Yianna, Mavrommatis