Lyrarakis Vilana Pirovolikes White 2022
Type: White
Country: Greece
Region: Crete
Grape Variety: 100% Vilana
Viticulture: Organic Farming
Climate: Warm dry summers moderated by cool Aegean winds
Terroir: Vines grow on a soilbed of loam with an eastern exposure at an altitude of 650m above sea level
Ageing: Grapes from 30-year-old vines within the Pirovolikes vineyard that offer a significantly high natural acidity and aromatic concentration. The free-run juice is fermented in both stainless steel (57%) and oak (43%) for 25 days at 16.5 degrees Celsius. 60% of the wine is matured in 600lt and 225lt, new and re-used French, Acacia and Caucasian oak for 4 months where it had a natural stabilization (no fining and no cold treatment)
Color: Pale yellow
Nose: Aromas of saline and citrus blossom, along with some wet earth notes and slate, combined with nice spice from the oak
Palate: Full mouthfeel with crispy acidity, marked by a long fruity and lightly mineral finish
About the Winery:
The Lyrarakis estate is a family vineyard and winery which has been producing high-quality wines since 1966.
Lyrarakis has devoted itself to the revival of indigenous, almost extinct, rare varieties such as Dafni, Plyto, Melissaki and others, vinifying wines that highlight their unique and distinctive character.
Lyrarakis is located in the mountainous commune of Alagni (440 metres above sea level), south of the city of Heraklion, in Crete. The soils are predominantly loam with either more sand or clay depending on the vineyard site. The well-preserved 14th-century stone-presses in the fields around the winery are proof of the area’s long history of grape-growing and winemaking.
In charge of winemaking, is Myriam Ambuzer who has been vital in securing Lyrarakis a place in the elite wineries of Greece. Her philosophy emphasises precision, purity and the supple texture of the fruit. She argues it is all about expressing authenticity and achieving harmony and that every variety needs to be worked in its own special way.
