NEMEA 2023 - AIVALIS WINERY

If you know Christos Aivalis, you might consider him eccentric, intense, and larger-than-life. But without a doubt, you also know about his obsession with perfection. Perfection that, as he says, can only be achieved through meticulous attention to every detail.

In each of the estate’s dry-farmed vineyards, Agiorgitiko is cultivated with undivided care. The exceptionally low yields (150–550 kg per stremma) result in grapes of stunning concentration. Following the Burgundy model, the fruit is harvested and vinified separately by vineyard plot, with no blending. This focus on expressing the uniqueness of each microclimate, combined with the application of cutting-edge winemaking techniques, has rightfully earned Aivalis Winery a place among the finest in the Nemea region.

But according to Aivalis himself, his greatest achievement is his son, Sotiris. Recently returned from his oenology studies in Beaune, Burgundy, Sotiris has already taken on a significant role at the winery. The estate’s Nemea wine is his creation. Sourced exclusively from the vineyard in the Gerakina area — an unexplored side of Nemea — it aged for 14 months in French oak barrels and was bottled without fining or filtration. The result is a red wine of unique expressive intensity, which made his father even prouder.

And rest assured, there’s much more to come from this talented father-and-son duo!

Bright purple color in the glass.

Particularly intense and complex nose, with plum, sour cherry, and ripe strawberry standing out, accompanied by violet, nuts, and herbal hints of green tea. Spicy feeling with black pepper, clove, and vanilla complementing the primary aromas and oak, damp earth, smoke, ink, and hints of bitter chocolate completing the rich depth and character set.

Robust mouth with well-worked moderate tannins and balanced acidity. Cherry, plum, and toast dominate while the intensely spicy sense accompanies the bitter chocolate in the long-lasting aftertaste.