Diamantakis Petali Assyrtiko

Diamantakis is a small family winery on the island of Crete, founded by Nikolaos Diamantakis and his sons, who have been growing vines in the region for three generations. The estate sits south of Heraklion in the foothills of the Psiloritis mountains, where limestone soils and the winds off the Aegean shape everything they grow. Assyrtiko is a grape most people know from Santorini, but Crete gives it a slightly different personality. This version has a little more body and texture than the lean, austere Santorini style, which makes it approachable without losing any of its character. After fermentation at low temperature, the wine spends three months on its lees, which adds a subtle creaminess and depth. The color is pale yellow. On the nose you get fresh citrus, green apple, white pear and a hint of Cretan herbs like thyme and oregano. There is also a flinty, mineral quality underneath that runs through everything. On the palate it is crisp and bright with lively acidity and a long, saline finish. That saltiness is the Aegean making itself known. Clean, refreshing and very food friendly. If you have never had Assyrtiko from Crete, this is a great introduction to what the grape can do outside of Santorini.