LE SANG DE LA PIERRE 2023 - AIVALIS WINERY

Le Sang de la Pierre from Aivalis Winery is the wine you eagerly await for months every year—just like we do! It consistently manages to cause a stir wherever it appears, and it’s the kind of wine that deserves to take up half a shelf of your wine dispenser—just so you never run out.

The small vineyard in Traganes, on the unexplored side of Nemea, is living proof of Christos Aivalis’ obsession with grape origin and the expression of terroir. The soil is filled with pebbles, and the vines have been toughened by the rugged terrain and the complete absence of any fertilization for at least 14 years. By nurturing this vineyard as if it were his child, Christos manages to produce perhaps the best and most concentrated Agiorgitiko grapes in Nemea.

From that point on, his son Sotiris takes over. After returning from his studies in Beaune, Burgundy, he brought a fresh perspective to the winery. Le Sang de la Pierre is his creation. From the perfect moment of harvest to the name and every last detail of the label, Sotiris made all the decisions and did all the work. He knew that if he didn’t succeed, he would have to answer to the most demanding and dedicated winemaker in Nemea—his father.

Allowing 5% of the grapes to raisin (a method used in Burgundy), the fruit’s concentration reaches extraordinary levels. The fermentation took place in large 500-liter French oak barrels to soften the wine’s contact with the wood. It aged there for 14 months, developing a complex, impressive, and velvety character before being bottled with a stunning label. Each year, Christos grows more proud—not only of his son but also of the Agiorgitiko masterpiece they are crafting together.

The name "Le Sang de la Pierre" means "The Blood of the Stone." It was inspired by a drop of grape juice that accidentally fell onto the stones in the vineyard, staining them with the deepest crimson hue. It is undoubtedly one of the most fitting wine names we've ever encountered.

If you take our advice, buy at least three bottles—one to enjoy now and two to age for the next decade.

Le Sang de la Pierre Aivalis Winery has a deep purple color with violet hues. Intoxicating aromas of plum, sour cherry, cherry jam, blueberry, cassis are accompanied by hints of wild strawberry jam, green pepper, cinnamon, and vanilla.

The barrel is perfectly integrated leaving the most "tender" character of Agiorgitiko to shine: violet and red rose aromas gradually unfold. Chocolate, tobacco, and cedar complete the uniquely complex bouquet that is constantly evolving.

Rich mouth but at the same time elegant, with medium, silky tannins and perfectly balanced acidity. Blueberries, juicy cassis, black cherries, blackberries, which you can almost chew, are combined with notes of violet, vanilla, cedar, chocolate, pepper, cinnamon, espresso and tobacco.