Thymiopoulos, Xinomavro, Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece, 2018

I'm a big fan of Thymiopoulos and regularly drink its Jeunes Vignes Xinomavro, so I was keen to try this release made for Majestic. It's a great grape variety with real character – it's often compared to Nebbiolo, offering a similar paler hue, high acidity and big tannins, and lively red fruit flavours. I often find a hint of tomato in the wines too. This one has definitely seen more oak influence than the Jeunes Vignes – it's more robust, with the same smoky red cherry fruit, but lacks the same vibrant crunchiness. Still, it's definitely worth trying for an idea of the Xinomavro character, and the oak means that it would be a good match for lamb, pork or other more hearty meat dishes.