Tatsis Goumenissa 2017 is one of the most substantial and characterful reds we listed in 2022. A noble wine from a noble family! And moreover, a PDO wine from one of the smallest and most remote wine regions of Greece, yet marking a centuries long viticultural and winemaking tradition that transcends through generations (and even locations) and guards history secrets and winemaking DNA traits - indeed, these exist!

The Tatsis family moved to the area just after 1922, together with a good number of refugees from Eastern Romylia and Pontos and enriched the indigenous viticultural scene with new 'know-how' and practices. Currently led by brothers Stergios and Pericles, the winery produces wines solely from their own fruit, cultivated and certified according to the regulations of organic farming and since 2022 also biodynamically, yielding a modest production of about 3000-7000 kilos/ha. The vinification and wine maturation takes place at the family's own premises - all on-site, 100% traceable and hard worked for!

This is a 50/50 blend of Xinomavro and Negoska, as it is the tradition in Goumenissa, grown at 350-450m altitude on sandy clay soils, on slope and in 'pinching' continental climate conditions with snow falls in the winter and heat spells in the summer. Healthy grapes trained in hardship and reserving their best for the winemaker's and drinker's sake! Destemming and spontaneous fermentation at controlled temperatures is carried out without additives & followed by maturation in mainly old French oak for over 12 months. Bottling is without stabilization nor filtration. This slow & gentle winemaking process brings the raw material to the forefront of the drinker's appreciation and creates a wine as powerful as it is also delicate, but mostly truthful. To  its roots, everyday conditions of making, from the vineyard onwards - and future vision. If there would be just one word for this wine, that would be 'originality'. Packed with black plums and red forest fruit, with hints of ripe tomato, black olive and sweet spice, this is a warm (but not heated), rich and brave wine made by people who can reconstruct vineyards (and life itself) just because they have that incredible strength to do it! Full bodied, yet with refreshing acidity and perfect for gammon, lamb and wild boar! Go to Tatsis Goumenissa 2017 product page.