It’s a wonderful experience… beating the brakes off a Fiat 600 on volcanic roads. And, when you’re on a 12% slope and you manage to overtake an elderly man on a bike, the satisfaction is out of this world. The important thing was that I got to Sigalas and I had an experience! A Santorini vertical that took me back to 2003. Without beating around the bush, I’ll tell you that Santorini Sigalas is a one-hundred per cent Assyrtiko that, after alcoholic fermentation, spends six months on yeasts. And it comes out at around 14% alcohol by volume.

So…

  1. Sigalas Santorini 2017 - pretty restrained in the nose, with touches of citrus fruits, white flowers, herbs and a lot of minerality. Firm structure, crunchy acidity, fresh, with notes of lemon and a tonic-mineral ending. 89 points, because it needs to sit for a while…

  2. Sigalas Santorini 2016 - More complex fragrances, with tones of sweet citrus, lemon peel, but also a touch of honey. A full taste, with unctuous touches of essential oils and herbs. The finale, long, citric-mineral, sweetened by oxidative touches. 92 points.

  3. Sigalas Santorini 2015 - Already some gold notes, and the bouquet adds touches of mango and peach over the typical notes. The minerality pulses and sustains the ample taste, dominated by sweet citrus and white apricot, over which a dusting of white pepper appears. 91 points.

  4. Sigalas Santorini 2010 - the bouquet talks first, bringing forward notes of honey, lollipop and dried apricot. The lemon is also present, especially in the taste which was full, sweet, with balsamic notes, but very well structured and with a surprising balance. The finale is long, with elegant mineral touches.

  5. Sigalas Santorini 2008 - Amber in its robe, Porto in expression. Because the oxidative touches also come with notes of honey, cocoa, herbs, even some tobacco. The body suffers, the alcohol and the acidity don’t get along as much anymore, but the ample finale, with sweet notes of dried orange, raisins, walnuts and mineral touches still please you for 88 points.

  6. Sigalas Santorini 2007 - Same same, but not quite. Or, to be easier to understand, same color, but a different expression. At least olfactively, because the volcano is fully present in this wine. The minerality sustains sweet notes of tiramisu, honey and green walnut jam. The body is finer, but the balance is incredible, and the taste is long, without interruptions, with notes of orange peel. 94 points.

  7. Sigalas Santorini 2005 - Surprises, surprises… because the wine still has green lickerings. And it represents minerality to perfection. Which constantly pulsates between notes of sweet lemon, warm herbs, white pepper and roasted seeds. In its long finale, with oily sensations, you find saline touches and notes of green olive. Maybe the most beautiful expression of Greece and Santorini in a single wine. But it’s not easy to understand. I liked it. A lot. 95 points.

  8. Sigalas Santorini 2003 - Ecce Vinum! Or balance in its purest state. Expression of a young Santorini, with lemon, salt, peach, herbs, olives. The type of wine you’re happy exists. Thank you, Paris Sigalas!!! 97 points.

I didn’t only limit myself to these wines. I told stories alongside Paris Sigalas, time in which I took joy in a Mavrotragano 2015, a Cavaliere 2015 and 2014, a Roptro 2013, an Aidani demi-sweet late-harvest, with three years of wood and two more in a bottle. And I also tested the wines which, in Paris’ opinion, will assure the survival of the winery in a pretty muddy period. Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, both from 2018, both made by grapes coming from the continent. The wines will be on the market in 2020. We’ll talk more about them then…