Thymiopoulos, Rosé de Xinomavro, Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece 2022

Yet another delicious vintage of Thymiopoulos’ style-defying oak-aged pink Xinomavro, with the seductive hue of a deep rosé, the textural character of a skin-fermented white and the tannic structure of a light red. Notes of rose petals, white pepper and cranberries are followed by a juicy palate of pink grapefruit, orange zest and wild strawberries, topped by fresh almonds and sweet spice.

In its dark bottle, this serious rosé is built to age and looks forward to an era of Greek wine production where rosé rivals reds and whites for flagship status. Lovely flecks of bronze in the glass, and the aromas reward decanting with savoury framing around some exotic splendour along the lines of gingery spice and papaya. A few months in oak bolster depth and savoury resonance alongside fresher notes that pop like dots of red apple and tiny raspberry pips. After an hour it opens into orange peel and rose nuances underpinned by lavish intensity, which makes it a fabulous choice for the finest banquet of crab or lobster. Farmed organically, using biodynamic practices.