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2020 Santo Wines Assyrtiko

Santo Wines was founded as the Union of Santorini Cooperatives in 1947, a home-grown organization to support grape growers and winemakers, and establish best practices for producing wines from native varietals on the island, particularly the white grape assyrtiko. The co-op, which now counts 1200 members and is the biggest producer of wines on the island, didn't start making wines under its own label until 1985.
 

Almost all the assyrtiko vines on Santorini are on their original rootstock, as phylloxera never got a foothold on the island, due to its isolated nature and its  sandy ashy-volcanic soil composition. Vintners on Santorini also use an entirely unique form of vine training, called the kouloura, or "basket vine", in which the vine is woven around itself as it rises directly off the ground in a circular shape. This technique keeps the vines fortified against the strong southerly winds from North Africa, shields the grapes from the harsh sun, and keeps the leaves and grapes close to their underground water source.

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This 2020 has apricot and lime up front, with some floral aromatics like chamomile, a bit of beeswax on the palate, and sharp rocky minerality on the finish. This is definitely an oyster wine, and perfect with salads like the Greek tomato and feta, and also with quail and other fowl.

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Producer: Santo Wines

Name of Wine: Santorini Assyrtiko

Vintage: 2020

Region: Santorini, Greece

Appellation: Santorini PDO

Varietal(s): 100% assyrtiko

Agriculture: organic

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Vineyard/Winery Location: Pyrgos, Santorini, Greece

Soil Type(s): volcanic-ash sand

Altitude: ~300-400m / ~980-1300ft
Exposure: west

Trellis: kouloura (basket training)

Planting Density: 2000-2300 vines/hectare

Age of Vines: 40-60 years
Harvest: hand harvested

Yield: 2000 kg/hectare

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Yeasts: native yeasts

Maceration: 6 hours on skins
Alcoholic fermentation: in stainless steel

Malolactic fermentation: no
Élevage: in stainless steel

Fining/Filtration: no / light filtration

Acidity: 5.9 g/L

Alcohol: 13.5%

Production: 80,000 bottles
Closure and bottle: natural cork, 750 ml, Burgundy bottle

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Service Temperature: 45-55 F

Drink: now to 2024

Decant: no

Pairing: oysters / tomato and feta salad / roast quail

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