On the Road with the Grape Guy

Cyprus Trip 2024 – the winery visits (part 2)

31 Mar 2025

Details: Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

Cyprus2aa Cyprus wine comes to life … I have written a little and talked a lot more about Cyprus wines in the last year (facebook / instagram – podcast 1 – podcast 2 – video review – with more on the way). Now, it’s time to look at some of these wines and see where Cyprus is going and the wines you should be excited about tasting – whenever and wherever possible.

Back in February 2024, I got a chance to visit Cyprus. What an eye-opening experience that was. I got a chance to taste some amazing wines and learn all about the history and culture of this island. What I thought I knew, I didn’t – and what I didn’t know, a lot, I learned. One thing is for certain – if ever I get a chance to go, again, or taste, Cypriot wines – I will definitely do it – and I recommend you do the same.

Cyprus2bb Upon my return home … I recorded a few video wine reviews (the one linked above was recorded in Cyprus); and I would like to send out a big thank you to the Kolonaki Group, who facilitated getting these wines into Canada for me; because a winery can’t just send wine into Ontario to a consumer or reviewer (don’t get me started) … check out Kolonaki’s list of Cypriot wines (search Cyprus).

And below, you can check out mine … from the wineries I visited:

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DAY TWO

Tsiakkas 2021 Vamvakada
(Maratheftiko)
A fruit forward wine loaded with sweet cherries and red plum, floral, elegant, really pretty - plus there’s good tannin structure. (****+)

Tsiakkas 2021 Yiannoudin
(Yiannoudi)
Blackberry, black raspberry, and subtle spices combine with some hints of leather. Tasty and tantalizing with good tannin structure that eventually mellows out: heftier wine than expected, but those tannins silken with time in glass. (****+)

Tsiakkas 2023 Xynisteri
(Xynisteri 98% / Malaga 2%)
Two months on lees gives this wine a nice texture and flavour: floral and citrus, with gentle acidity and a touch of salinity. (*** ½+)

Tsiakkas 2022 Paradois - Ambassador Line
(Xynisteri)
Described by the winemakers as: "an orange wine without you paying for the winemakers mistakes". 90 days of skin contact with Commadaria skins and Xynisteri must; 9 months on lees ... with no pressing, to avoid tannins. It's an interesting wine with subtle tannins and good acidity, comes across with notes of grilled pineapple and grilled peach. One of the more interesting "orange wines" I've tasted (in a good way). (*** ½+)

Tsiakkas 2022 Exelisis - Ambassador Line
(Sauvignon Blanc 30% / Chardonnay 10% / Promara 40% / Xynisteri 20%)
A real hodge-podge of a blend that delivers spicy and fruity notes: spiced tangerine, even something slightly grassy, with some green pear backing - layered and lovely. (*** ½+)

Cyprus2dd

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Cyprus2gg

Kyperounda 2021 Epos Red (high altitude)
(Syrah / Cabernet Sauvignon 50 each)
Cyprus2hh To preserve the fruitiness and juiciness of this wine it spends 12 months in barrique and 6 more months in 600L barrels: fresh fruit shows through, with a juicy, spicy and white pepper character. Fruits come across as blackberry and cassis, with some graphite mixed in. It has a freshness propelled by its good acidity. (****)

Kyperounda 2022 Petritis
(Xynisteri)
20% of this wine sees oak maturation; but starts in stainless steel for the fermentation process and then rests on lees 6 months. Citrus notes with good acidity, some grapefruit rind slips in and so does a subtle floral notes. (*** ½)

Kyperounda 2022 Epos White (high altitude)
(Chardonnay)
With 9 months ageing in bottle and two years in 300L barrels there is surprisingly still a brightness to this wine which comes across as super young. (*** ½)

Cyprus2kk

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DAY FOUR

Starts with a cool OLD vs NEW vines Xynesteri tasting …

Cyprus2pp

Vasilikon 2022 A - Selection
(Xynisteri)
From the Arodes area. These are 102 yr old vines (planted in 1920). Fresh and lively, with notes of Maldon salt and pineapple; mouth filling with a medium length finish. (****+)

Vasilikon 2022 Single Vineyard
(Xynisteri)
These vines were planted in 1965, just outside the winery: good acidity, with salty, pineapple, and a creamy texture, but with a punchy finish. (****+)

Vasilikon 2022 K - Selection
(Xynisteri)
From the Kathikas area. These are 65-year-old vines (planted in 1967): pineapple, peach, but still with those saline notes and non-aggressive acidity. (****)

Vasilikon 2023 Xinisteri
There's a saline quality that goes start to finish; slightly citrusy with gentle acidity, and a medium length finish. (*** ½)

Vasilikon 2022 I - Selection
(Xynisteri)
From the Inia area; the youngest vines in this range at only 12 years old (planted in 2010) - this is basic Xynisteri: floral, fresh, with notes of lime pith. (*** ½)

Cyprus2qq

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Nelion Winery 2022 2 Rizes
(Xynisteri)
Name means 2 roots. The grapes for this wine come from a blend of vineyards and is named for the river that brings life to the vines: refreshing and pretty with stone fruit and floral notes. (*** ½+)

Nelion Winery 2020 Ofthalmo
Started making this wine back in 2006. It spends 12 month in older barrels. It's easy drinking with cherry and blueberry notes: quite quaffable, but also quite acidic – it’s a chill and enjoy type of red. (*** ½+)