2024 Assyrtiko 'Monograph', Gaia Wines
Peloponnese, Greece
Aegean Electric
Bright, flinty and full of nerve, the 2024 Monograph Assyrtiko captures the thrilling, citrus-driven energy that makes this grape so addictive. Lime zest, grapefruit and green apple leap from the glass, followed by a touch of honeysuckle and a cool mineral edge that keeps everything taut and focused. The palate is fresh and precise, with crisp acidity slicing through the ripe fruit, while a subtle breadth through the middle gives the wine just enough texture to feel complete. Zesty, saline and beautifully refreshing, this is a white that hums with clarity and finishes long, stony and mouthwatering.
For when: seafood is ordered, the sun is out, and the first glass disappears far too quickly.
Pairs with: grilled prawns, oysters, lemony fish dishes, or salty appetisers on a warm evening.
If this wine were a place: a whitewashed terrace above the sea, all bright stone, citrus peel and salt on the breeze.
Gaia (pronounced Yay-ya) is one of the pioneers of modern Greek wine, founded in 1994 by Leon Karatsalos and Yiannis Paraskevopoulos, with wineries in both Nemea and Santorini and a reputation for pushing Greek indigenous varieties into sharper international focus. Monograph Assyrtiko shows that philosophy beautifully, taking this iconic grape beyond Santorini and into the Peloponnese, where calcareous mainland soils give it a slightly broader, more fruit-forward expression while preserving the freshness and mineral tension that define the variety.
Whats in the bottle
100% Assyrtiko