Moinoterra "Archanes" '22

The Archanes wine region on the Greek island of Crete is laden with the weight of history - winemaking and otherwise. Of course, to prioritize the important things, there's verifiable evidence of winemaking here dating back almost 4,000 years to the second century BC, back when the Minoan Civilization was building a bronze age on the island.

Moinoterra's very name pays homage to this rich tradition: a combination of the Greek word for "wine" and "Minos," for the mythological king. But fear not being sent as sacrifice to the Minotaur in his Labyrinth. It'd be very difficult to get lost here - the wine is an expression of a single dry farmed vineyard at 650m. Two varietals, Kotsifali and Mandilari, vinified separately, comprise the blend.

The end result is an ethereal and delicate wine. Gentle tannins, but bursting with tart red cherries and berries and enough of a subtle, spicy edge to line up beautifully with cuts of lamb or savory tartare.