News and Wine Blog
Explore the flavors of Greece with VIno Mas Wine Club
07/02/2025
The main red this month is Kir-Yianni "THE FALLEN OAK" from the Naousssa/Yianakohori region,in Macedonia which is in northern Greece. The supercentenarian oak that stood by “Koula” Tower has been the trademark of Ktima (Estate) KIR-YIANNI. Its fall due to an extreme thunderstorm on 10 July 2019 inspired the creation of this wine as a homage to the storied history, as well as the day after for Ktima KIR-YIANNI. Thus, “THE FALLEN OAK” embraced the Estate’s deep bond with Xinomavro “Keh-see-no-mav-roh” together with the long tradition in creating exceptional blends.
Karen paired this wine with Gyro's, which when we think of greek food, most of us think, Gyros. We do not have a specific recipe for Gyros, Costco sells Gyro meat already made, just heat it up, then you can purchase the pita bread, and cut up lettuce, tomatoes and onion for the handheld and top with either homemade or store bought tzatziki sauce. Or to make it super easy for a quick weeknight dinner, you can purchase the pre-made Gyro kits from Costco or Sams. The Fallen Oak wine is aged in oak, when drank with the Gyro's it toned the oak notes in the wine down and really brought out the fruit favors. The Fallen Oak is a great wine to have with food but is also great to just drink on it's own.
I paired the main white this month, it is a Malagouzia “Mala-goo-zya”from North-western Macedonia. This wine is bright, fresh and easy drinking. It will pair well with green salads, baked vegetables, pasta, low fat fishes and a wide variety of sea food. I paired this with crab cakes, a pasta and a pesto salad. All three dishes were fantastic with the wine. The recipe that I am going to share is the one for the crab cakes. The wine's floral and citrus notes complemented the sweetness of the crab meat and the refreshing acidity cut through the richness of the lemon caper cream sauce that I drizzled over the crab.
The Alexakis Kotsifali Syrah is the red complement, this wine tastes like tart spiced cherry juice with some earthy undertone notes. I found that a little chill on was better. I paired this wine with Chicken Cutlets with a sun-dried tomato cream sauce and greek grilled corn on the side. The wine paired beautifully with the dish. The creamy umami flavors from the tomato cream sauce brought the tartness of the wine way down. The tangy feta and greek seasoning that was on the grilled corn, brought out the bright red fruits in the wine. You can top the chicken dish over rice if you want a more hearty dish. The recipe below is for the Chicken cutlets, if you want the greek corn to go with the dish, it is super easy: Grill the corn, baste with melted butter mixed with greek seasoning and top with crumbled feta cheese and fresh parsley when serving.
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Alexakis Kotsifali Syrah:
NOTES: The Kotsifali Syrah blend from Crete offers a complex and well-structured wine with notes of dark fruit, spice, and earthy undertones. It is characterized by a bright red color, a velvety texture, and balanced acidity.
Karen paired this wine with Gyro's, which when we think of greek food, most of us think, Gyros. We do not have a specific recipe for Gyros, Costco sells Gyro meat already made, just heat it up, then you can purchase the pita bread, and cut up lettuce, tomatoes and onion for the handheld and top with either homemade or store bought tzatziki sauce. Or to make it super easy for a quick weeknight dinner, you can purchase the pre-made Gyro kits from Costco or Sams. The Fallen Oak wine is aged in oak, when drank with the Gyro's it toned the oak notes in the wine down and really brought out the fruit favors. The Fallen Oak is a great wine to have with food but is also great to just drink on it's own.
I paired the main white this month, it is a Malagouzia “Mala-goo-zya”from North-western Macedonia. This wine is bright, fresh and easy drinking. It will pair well with green salads, baked vegetables, pasta, low fat fishes and a wide variety of sea food. I paired this with crab cakes, a pasta and a pesto salad. All three dishes were fantastic with the wine. The recipe that I am going to share is the one for the crab cakes. The wine's floral and citrus notes complemented the sweetness of the crab meat and the refreshing acidity cut through the richness of the lemon caper cream sauce that I drizzled over the crab.
The Alexakis Kotsifali Syrah is the red complement, this wine tastes like tart spiced cherry juice with some earthy undertone notes. I found that a little chill on was better. I paired this wine with Chicken Cutlets with a sun-dried tomato cream sauce and greek grilled corn on the side. The wine paired beautifully with the dish. The creamy umami flavors from the tomato cream sauce brought the tartness of the wine way down. The tangy feta and greek seasoning that was on the grilled corn, brought out the bright red fruits in the wine. You can top the chicken dish over rice if you want a more hearty dish. The recipe below is for the Chicken cutlets, if you want the greek corn to go with the dish, it is super easy: Grill the corn, baste with melted butter mixed with greek seasoning and top with crumbled feta cheese and fresh parsley when serving.
Recipe links below. ENJOY!
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Kir-Yianni - The Fallen Oak
NOTES: Kir-Yianni "The Fallen Oak" is a red blend that has a fruit-forward nose with aromas of red and black fruits like cherry and blackberry, and accompanied by subtle notes of vanilla and coffee. The palate is rich, round, and velvety, with balanced acidity and tannins and a long, spicy finish. A blend of Xinomavro, Merlot and Syrah. Recipe to pair with The Fallen Oak:
Gyros!
Gyros!
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Alpha Estates Malagouzia
NOTES: Brilliantly, light yellow in color with greenish tints. Strong and lively nose, typical Malagouzia, suggesting rose petal with floral aromas and sweet spices, melon, litchi with a note of honeysuckle. Round and mellow on the palate, fat but balanced, high in alcohol with plenty of finesse. Well structured, reminding the nose aromas with a hint of rosemary. A classy wine with long finish and persistent aromas.
Alpha Estates Malagouzia
Recipe to pair with Malagouzia:
www.vinomas.com/Crab-Cakes-paired-with-Alpha-Estate-Malagouzia-Greece
www.vinomas.com/Crab-Cakes-paired-with-Alpha-Estate-Malagouzia-Greece
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Alexakis Kotsifali Syrah:
Recipe to pair with Kotsifali Syrah:
www.vinomas.com/Chicken-Cutlets-with-Sun-Dried-Tomato-cream-sauce-paired-with-Alexakis-Kotsifali-Syrah
www.vinomas.com/Chicken-Cutlets-with-Sun-Dried-Tomato-cream-sauce-paired-with-Alexakis-Kotsifali-Syrah
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High Tier Wine Club Wine:
High Tier Wine Club Wine:
2022 OLG Pinot Noir
Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
Winemaker’s Notes
The 2022 OLG Pinot Noir pours a dark persimmon core with a lucid rose hip rim. Laden with elegant aromatics, notes of bright raspberry and bing cherry develop into darker tones of black cherry, mocha and mahogany. On the palate, the entry is scrumptiously soft with cranberry crunch, ripe strawberry, redcurrant and a touch of maritozzo. Typical of the Sta. Rita Hills, the finish is lined with minerality and some saline hints with closing touches of fennel and anise.
Composition
100% Pinot Noir from Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard
96 points - DECANTER
95 points & Editors’ Choice - WINE ENTHUSIAST
94 points - VINOUS (Antonio Galloni)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
Winemaker’s Notes
The 2022 OLG Pinot Noir pours a dark persimmon core with a lucid rose hip rim. Laden with elegant aromatics, notes of bright raspberry and bing cherry develop into darker tones of black cherry, mocha and mahogany. On the palate, the entry is scrumptiously soft with cranberry crunch, ripe strawberry, redcurrant and a touch of maritozzo. Typical of the Sta. Rita Hills, the finish is lined with minerality and some saline hints with closing touches of fennel and anise.
Composition
100% Pinot Noir from Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard
96 points - DECANTER
95 points & Editors’ Choice - WINE ENTHUSIAST
94 points - VINOUS (Antonio Galloni)
Post By:
Deanna Albertson