The Highlights of 2020
The Highlights of 2020
This article was delayed because a demanding and evolving professional project required my full attention and time until its end. But I think the delay was not so long to be off-topic since, under normal circumstances, the Vasilopita (traditional Greek cake with a lucky coin inside) is cut approximately in mid-March.
Let's distinguish some of the best things that happened in 2020.
115 wines were rated.
4 tributes to wineries (not bad considering the situation).
2 articles (unacceptable, I promise more).
The wines with a higher rating (3 are from Greece):
Château de Beaucastel 2001 blanc, Famille Perrin 100pts
Pomerol 2000, Château Moulinet 98 pts
Aleatico Passito 2010, Masseria Li Veli 97 pts
Vina Tondonia Reserva 2006, R. Lopez de Heredia 97pts
Château de Beaucastel 2005, Famille Perrin 96pts
Cuvée Evdemon 2016, Estate Argyros 96pts
Lur Saluces 1998, Château d’Yquem 95 pts
Assyrtiko de Louros 2011, Hatzidakis Winery 95pts
Enselberg Jechtingen GG 2017, Franz Keller 95pts
Coyam 2015, Emiliana Organic Vineyards 95pts
Syrah 2015, Lacules Bay Vineyard 95pts
Top 10 worth discovering regardless of the score:
Tinto Bruto NV, Quinta Do Ferro
Retsina 2017, Aoton
Mouchtaro 2017, The Knack
Goumenissa 2012, Tatsis
Cuvee Monsignori 2017, Estate Argyros
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2015, Emidio Pepe
Clos De Capelune 2018, Château Saint-Maur
Goumenissa 2016, Chatzivaritis Estate
Château La Croix 2016, Joseph Janoueix
Merlot 2017, Lacules Bay Vineyard
Top 10 value for money:
Blanc de Gris 2018, Tselepos Winery
Rosé De Xinomavro 2019, Thymiopoulos
Douro 2014, Senhora Do Convento
Terrement Haut-Montravel 2014, Château Puy-Servain
Retsina 2017, Aoton
Roes Carignan 2017, Oinotropai Winery
Goumenissa 2012, Tatsis
Goumenissa 2016, Chatzivaritis Estate
Ασκός 2018, Masseria Li Veli
Top 10 wine and food matches that are made from heaven:
Armathos 2015, George Loulis - black Angus burger stuffed with cheese and truffle.
Cote de Lechet, Chablis 1er Cru 2018, Domaine Vincent Dampt - jumbo shrimps stuffed with sweetbreads, coconut sauce and lemongrass.
Château de Beaucastel 2005, Famille Perrin - orzo with mushrooms and truffle.
Tinto Bruto NV, Quinta Do Ferro - smoked duck carpaccio with spice caramel and wild arugula.
Samos Vin Doux 2018, UWC Samos - melba peach with white chocolate mousse.
Dom Ferro Reserva Bruto 2014, Quinta Do Ferro - prawn gazpacho with melon, cucumber and fresh mint.
Château de Beaucastel 2001 blanc, Famille Perrin - pork knuckle in the oven with baby potatoes, celery and aged mustard sauce.
Tête de Cuvée 2018, Château Fuissé - sautéed squid, bulgur, courgette flowers and celeriac cream.
Goumenissa 2012, Tatsis - medium-rare T-Bone.
Blanc de Gris 2018, Tselepos Winery - chicken in the oven.
Personal goals:
I established this blog.
I had a fabulous season on Mykonos island.
I participated in the writing contest of Jancis Robinson MW, and my text was published.
I tasted 250 wines.
1 business trip to Munich.
And the bests are coming!
Although this blog has been on air since April, I feel I have been working on it for years instead of nine months. It is demanding and absorbs a lot of my time to keep it on track. In any case, this does not mean that I am bored or I have done enough. It is the opposite. I have so many more things to do: writing, learning, and evolving, that this is just the beginning.
This pandemic has affected our lives beyond any expectation. And in my opinion, the best way to go through all this is through self-improvement. So when all this passes, we will be better prepared to continue from where we left off or any new challenge.
I wish you a creative 2021!
The help from Maria Tzitzi was precious.
Checking some old Château de Beaucastel for foults.
Vassilis Kapopoulos Oinotropai Estate
The chef of our heart Mr Nicolas Pelegrinis!