Domaine Economou Oikonomoy Assyrtiko Crete 2016

Domaine Economou Oikonomoy Assyrtiko Crete 2016

Domaine Economou
$80.00

Grape: Assyrtiko
Vintage: 2016
Type: White

Crafted by Yiannis Economou on the high-altitude Ziros plateau of Crete, this white wine represents a unique, long-aged style of assyrtiko. The fruit is hand-harvested from old, own-rooted bush vines that grow in poor, calcareous soils. Spontaneous fermentation occurs with native vineyard yeasts in old oak barrels, where the wine undergoes a controlled oxidative aging process. The producer holds the bottle in his cellar for years, releasing it only when it reaches peak structural development.

It pours a deep golden color, releasing an intense nose of dried yellow fruits, beeswax, and savory herbs. On the palate, the full-bodied, structured frame balances a broad, waxy texture with a sharp beam of mineral acidity. Savory flavors of honeyed quince and toasted nuts wrap around a dense mouthfeel. A strong vein of maritime salinity cuts right through mid-palate volume, keeping it fresh. It finishes long, dry, and clean, leaving a subtle oxidative edge.

Winery

Yiannis Economou returned to Crete in 1994 after studying enology in Alba and working in Piedmont, Germany and Bordeaux. His first task was to restore family vineyards on the high plateau of Ziros, in the eastern part of the island. The domaine’s parcels lie around villages including Ziros, Katsidoni and Etia, at elevations of roughly 600 to 650 meters. Old, often ungrafted vines and organic cultivation preserve a strong connection to local varieties such as Liatiko, Mandilari, Vilana and Thrapsathiri.

Time is as important as place in Economou’s cellar. Wines are aged for long periods and released only when he considers them ready, sometimes years after the conventional release window. Sulfur use is restrained, and the extended maturation gives the wines a distinctive evolution of texture and aroma. Liatiko anchors much of the red production, while the whites can show a layered, oxidative character. Rather than smoothing Crete into a familiar international style, Economou offers a patient and highly individual account of the island’s vineyard heritage.