Apostolos Thymiopoulos's rosé, made from the Xinomavro grape variety, is an all-time favourite of ours. Its savoury complexity and ageing ability make it one of the best value wines in Greece. Occasionally, Apostolos releases an aged version. Last year we had the 2013, this year it's the turn of 2009. But this is a vintage with a difference.
In the cold winter of 2009, fermentation stopped. Apostolos decided to wait, leaving the wine in tank to age on its lees. Six years later, in 2015, he added some fresh Malagousia (an aromatic white Greek variety) to restart fermentation and transferred the wine to 500l oak barrels. It was eventually bottled in 2020 before further ageing in the Thymiopoulos cellars. Now, a full 15 years on, it has been released.
This is a genuinely unique and fascinating wine: a rosé that has lost its colour and gained body and layers of complexity with years of ageing. It has a gorgeous, honeyed apricot aroma and a long, dry finish. The oak is beautifully integrated - just one note in a fascinating, harmonious spectrum of flavours.
| Type | Rosé |
|---|---|
| Country | Greece |
| Region | Macedonia |
| Producer | Thymiopoulos |
| Vintage | 2009 |
| Grape Varieties | Xinomavro, Malagousia |
| Farming | Organic, Biodynamic |
| ABV | 13.5% |
| Bottle Size | 75cl |
Apostolos Thymiopoulos is Greece's best red winemaker - a master of the Xinomavro grape variety in all its styles (many of which he pioneered). The core of the range is a series of Xinomavros from Naoussa, each of which offers a unique take on this world-class grape variety. The entry-level Jeunes Vignes is one of the best value wines to be found anywhere - a joyful, juicy red designed for early drinking. Earth & Sky, from older vines, is the flagship - the wine that more than any other has cemented Thymiopoulos' (and Xinomavro's) reputation for excellence around the world. At the top of the tree are three single site Naoussas from old vines - Kayafas, Aftorizo and Vrana Petra. These are outstanding by any measure, and comparisons with top Barolo are fully justified. The rest of the range continues to grow - his Rapsani from the foothills of Mount Olympus is superb, and his ageworthy Rosé de Xinomavro is one of the most complex and compelling rosés you will ever taste. Across all the wines, his signature style of silky, elegant tannins and beautiful balance shine through.
We offer free delivery to most UK postcodes for orders over £150 or of 12 or more bottles. For smaller orders there is a charge.
- £15 for orders under £50
- £10 for orders of £50-£149
- FREE for orders of £150+
Most orders are delivered direct from our bonded warehouse (LCB) on their own transport within 1-3 working days. Some orders may come by courier.
There are additional charges for delivery to more remote areas of the UK.
For more information, see our Delivery page.