Aivalis Le Sang de la Pierre

One of my favorite Greek red wines, this 100% Agiorgitiko made by Christos and Sotiris Aivalis in Nemea ticks all the boxes, with aromas of red berries, plum, sour cherry, cassis, caramel, nuts, pepper, chocolate, soft wood, coffee, cinnamon and vanilla. They let about 5% of the grapes dry on the vine to concentrate flavors, a method also used in Burgundy, and age it in large French oak barrels for 14 months to optimize the juice's contact with the wood. Ruby red, the wine's name means "the blood of the stone". With 4.3 points out of 5 on Vivino and around 90 points out of 100 from professional critics, this is objectively considered a very good wine.