The 2018 Sofos is a fabulous Greek blend (50% Agiorgitiko, 50% Cabernet) of outstanding value…
Name: Sofos – The Wise One
Vintage: 2018
Producer: Domaine Gioulis
Region/Country: Klimenti Corinth, Peloponnese, Greece
Grape Varietal(s): 50% Agiorgitiko and 50% Cabernet
Alcohol Level: 13%
Consumed: At home
Recommended By: Found it at the LCBO (local liquor board)
Cost: $19.95 CAD (at the LCBO)
For the more detailed wine review, read on…
Bottle Presentation
A classically Greek-looking appearance.
Appearance
Medium ruby.
Nose
Pronounced intensity nose, with sour red cherries, cranberries, cassis, graphite, cloves, allspice, blackcurrant leaf, violets, vanilla, toast/charring, menthol. It also served up some barnyard notes (a hint of Brett, perhaps?). We would consider this a youthful wine.
Palate
Dry, medium-bodied, with high acidity, medium and drying tannins, and medium alcohol. The wine had a medium(+) flavour intensity with notes of red cherry, sour strawberry, cranberry, tomato leaf, and cactus.
Finish
Very long, with enduring sour red fruit and tomato leaf flavours.
Overall Impressions
This 2018 Domaine Gioulis Sofos impressed us with its vibrant red fruit and high acidity. The decent balance, intensity, and complexity, as well as the excellent length, make this a very good wine.
We initially tried this red blend with our usual Friday night pizzas, a Calabrese pizza and a honey and goat cheese Margherita pizza. Despite the Sofos having medium alcohol (13% abv.), it punctuated the spicy character of the Calabrese pizza. Saying that, it paired beautifully with the Margherita pizza, as the red fruit became even more vibrant.
A quarter-bottle remained after our meal, so we removed the air and kept it in the fridge overnight. To our pleasant surprise, the wine paired even better with the blue cheese-covered filet mignon we grilled the following evening. Based on our two meals, we’d consider the 50-50 Agiorgitiko-Cabernet blend a highly versatile wine.
Because the nose and palate offer plenty of vibrant red fruit, you could certainly enjoy this wine now. If you can resist drinking it, you could probably cellar it for three to five years, at which point we’d expect to enjoy some tertiary notes, like leather, balsamic vinegar, toffee or caramel.
Ratings
Overall Rating: 93/100.
E-Wine rating: 5/5. All things being equal, given the tremendous value, we would buy a case of this wine to enjoy over the next five years.
Value: 5/5. Excellent value.