OenosMittasMalagousia‘Selection’2024

<p>Hailing from a long line of Macedonian grape growers, Yiannis Mittas is building a reputation as one of Greece’s most ambitious new winemaking talents.</p><p>After working for years alongside his cousin Kostis Dalamara – one of Greece’s finest vignerons – Yiannis jumped at the opportunity to purchase 1.8ha of his own vines in ‘Paliokalias’, a venerable site on the slopes of Mount Vermio which has been described by Greek Master of Wine Yiannias Karakasis as Naoussa’s Grand Cru.</p><p>Initially selling his top-quality, organically-grown Xinomavro to Domaine Dalamara, Yiannis decided to make tiny quantities of his own wines under the Oenos Mittas label from the 2022 vintage.</p><p>Fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks, it is matured for a year in a combination of small and large barrels of various ages before being bottled with minimal sulphur. It is a wine of wonderful purity, with sweet, floral-edged fruit – the result of particularly clay-rich vineyards – and manages to combine the elegance of Pinot Noir with the fine-grained tannins of Nebbiolo.</p><p>Yiannis also crafts this delicious Malagousia, which is macerated on skins for 33 days and then spends six months on its fine lees in steel tanks. It offers a peachy, herbal character alongside fresh acidity and gentle textural grip.</p><p>Greek wines are currently enjoying a renaissance with drinkers’ searching for authenticity, and Yiannis’ brilliant artisanal bottles are unrivalled in flavour and price.</p>