2021 Ramnista Naoussa Xinomavro, Kir-Yianni

• Style: Savory, mineral-driven Naoussa red
• Taste: Vibrant cherry, herbaceous tomato-leaf, fine-grained tannins, subtle spice
• Food: Grilled lamb, moussaka, aged feta, roast dinners, game
• Occasion: Sunday lunch, date night, cellar-worthy
• Serve: 14.5% abv, drink now or age 5–10+ years

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

The 2021 Ramnista opens with an intense, saline-edged nose of cherry and sour cherry that pulls toward herbaceous tomato-leaf detail — the signature of Naoussa's cool-climate personality. On the palate, taut minerality and fine-grained tannins frame layers of ripe red fruit laced with subtle spice and a whisper of vanilla. This is a wine built to age, yet drinks with uncommon freshness now, rewarding patience in the glass with uncommon depth.

The Winery — Kir-Yianni

Kir-Yianni's founder, Yiannis Boutaris, has been central to reviving modern Greek wine and championing indigenous varieties since the late 1990s. The Ramnista vineyard — named for the local word meaning 'royal hill' — sits at the historic heart of the estate's Naoussa holdings, with parcels spanning multiple aspects and elevations up to 280 metres. The 2021 vintage benefited from steady winter rain and a late-summer heat spike that brought excellent ripeness. The wine underwent a meticulous seven-day cold soak before fermentation in French oak and stainless steel, then aged sixteen months in a blend of new and older French oak barrels, building structure without masking the variety's natural grip and floral undertone. Today, fifth-generation winemaker Stellios Boutaris continues the estate's focus on sustainability and terroir expression.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This single-vineyard release is ideal for grilled lamb with charred onions, moussaka, or aged feta paired alongside. Its mineral tension and vibrant acidity make it equally at home with roast dinners, beef and steak, game and venison, or pasta and risotto dishes. At 14.5% abv, the Ramnista offers genuine drinking pleasure over the next five to ten years — though it will reward cellaring far longer, making it perfect for both immediate enjoyment and long-term investment. If you're exploring Xinomavro's potential, this is the place to start. Browse our broader selection of medium-bodied red wines, dig deeper into our Greece collection, and uncover other producers pushing the boundaries of what this remarkable country can offer.