Oenops, 'Apla' Red

Appealing aromas of cherry, fresh berries and a hint of tomato leaf lead to a juicy, fresh and intensely fruity palate, with great balance and a vibrant finish

Producer Note

Oenops was founded in 2015 by talented winemaker Nikos Karatzas, who operating as a négociant, produces a stunning range of distinctive wines from his newly established state-of-the-art winery. He sources indigenous and rare grape varieties grown on exceptional terroir focussing on cool-climate sites and old-vine plots, from carefully selected vineyards in Drama and Macedonia, which have been cultivated by ambitious winegrowers using an organic philosophy. Niko adopts a minimal intervention approach, and vinifies plot by plot using stainless steel, concrete, oak barrels and amphora. His aim is to source great fruit and craft wines that reflect the nuances of the native varieties and the identity from the terroir and as a result, he produces a collection of authentic, elegant and delicious wines. 

Vineyard

The grapes come from a range of specially selected vineyards across Northern Greece, particularly from cool-climate regions, where the Mediterranean climate is tempered by strong continental influences. The Xinomavro is sourced from Naousa, Rapsani and Amyntaio, the Limniona comes from the mountainous area of Thessaly, while the Mavroudi comes from Thrace, near the border with Turkey. The vines are trained using a variety of methods, which have been tailored to suit the variety, vigour of the vine and the terroir, however most are Double Cordon, to keep yields low and concentrate the flavours in the fruit. The majority of the vineyards are cultivated following organic principles, although they are not certified, and all grapes are hand-harvested in the cool of the night to retain freshness.

Winemaking

The grapes were carefully sorted and placed in a combination of stainless steel tanks, open-topped barrels and concrete tanks. Following a short cold-soak to extract colour, aromas, flavours and tannic structure, a slow, gentle fermentation took place with selected and wild yeasts. Maturation took place in old, previously used barrels, concrete vats and stainless steel tanks. Having spent six to nine months on its fine lees, the wine was blended and bottled. No new oak was used to preserve the purity of the fruit. 

Tasting Note

Appealing fruit-driven aromas of cherry, fresh berries and a hint of tomato leaf lead to a smooth, fresh and intensely fruity palate, with great balance and wonderful vibrancy on the finish. 

Grape

Xinomavro 50%, Limniona 30%, Mavroudi 20%