Manousakis Winery [1] Muscat of Spina 2016, Crete
A local clone of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Muscat of Spina is becoming fast a very popular and fashionable variety producing mainly easy drinking and light wines to be enjoyed as an aperitif or paired with light dishes, salad etc. Not this wine though!
Vines are extremely old approaching 120 years of age planted at 800 m of altitude. They can be described as of historic importance planted way before phylloxera arrived in the island of Crete, something that happened in the 70's. They are trained in an uncommon way as trunkless Gobelet.Yields are obviously low approximately 25 hl/ha and total production is close to 3000 bottles. For vinification producer Afshin Molavi comments that they don't do the ''fruit salad protocol'' but emphasize instead on the mineral and savoury side of the grape. Well does it exist? Obviously as the wine shows a yeasty and mineral flavour profile with floral notes discretely on the background. Medium bodied surprisingly intense with flesh and fairly long finish. Excellent pairing with a risotto with herbs and prawns or chicken. (retails in local market at 12 euros).