An outstanding Master Class dedicated to Syrah vine variety, took place yesterday in Athens at “Tilemachos restaurant”. The Master class organized by the Avantis Estate specifically for the members of the Greek Sommeliers Association.
Avantis Estate and particularly Apostolos Mountrichas are very well known in Greece for the high quality Syrah wines that they produce.
The Syrah Master Class was contacted by the same Producer “Apostolos Mountrichas” and additionally by two very important personalities who are closely related to this Estate which was bought using our loan . Konstantinos bakasietas (owner of one of the most important vine nurseries in Greece) and Dr. Kotseridis Yorgos, (professor at the Agricultural University of Athens). The wine Journalist Simos Georgopoulos had particpated as well as a special guest due to the tight cooperation he has for years with Avantis Estate.
Konstantinos Bakasietas explained the particularities of the Syrah variety and gave an emphasis to the importance of the specific clones of this variety
Dr. Kotseridis Yorgos was referred to various wine making techniques that can help producers to vinify Syrah in a great diversity of styles
Apostolos Mpountrichas was referred to the evolution of his estate and specifically to his dedication on this fabulous Syrah variety.
Apostolos Mountrichas is one of the most celebrated Syrah wine producers in Greece and produces Syrah wines in a huge range of styles.
The wines that were presented and tasted were the following:
First wine that was presented was a Natural Wine with no oak treatment (brand name Freedom 2017)
Then, the classic Syrah of the estate “Syrah 2015” with 12 months use of oak.
“Agios Chronos 2014” was the next wine, a Côte-Rôtie style, with viogner variety participating as 8% in the blend. This is a single vineyard wine of the estate. For Style comparaisons, the famous Côte-Rôtie “Brune & Blonde” 2014, Guigal was tasted right after Agios Chronos.
Then, another single vineyard wine was presentd which is the most prestigous wine of the estate and is being produced in very limitied number of bottles. This wine « Collection 2013 » was tatsed first in comparison with Max’s Shiraz 2016, Penfolds and then vertically for following vintages: 2009, 2005 and 2003.
The Master class was finished with the tasting of a sweet version of Syrah “Princess 2016”
Right after a fantastic meat lunch was followed at the exceptional ‘Tilemachos” restaurant with the company of the fabulous wines of the Avantis estate.
40 people have participated in this wonderful master class and we feel more than happy as members of the Greek Sommeliers Association, as we had the chance to experience such in amazing approach.
We warmly thank Apostolos Mountrichas and his wife Lenga for this great tasting and of course Konstantinos Bakasietas and Dr. Yorgos Kotseridis for their wonderful lectures on Syrah Variety.
We warmly thank as well, the owner and the staff of “Tilemachos” restaurant for the extraordinary hospitality they gave to us.
