Dimitris Liepouris is one of the most unassuming producers in the Attica vineyard, yet his wines—first and foremost the Savvatiano—set much higher quality standards. Sourced from a 250-acre vineyard (spread across Keratea and the wider Lavreotic area), the predominantly cup-trained Savvatiano vines yield no more than 400 kilograms per acre.
Naturally, as a producer from the area, he couldn’t possibly be without a Retsina in his collection, and it must come from the historic, esteemed variety.
The deep golden colour suggests a strong resinous character, yet the pine is more absent than in an alpine forest! In fact, the wine bears more resemblance to an old-style Chardonnay from California, with notes of butter, vanilla, dried apricot, and nuts, seasoned with just a hint of tropical undertones.
Modern Retsinas often wait for the first sip to justify their name, but this is not the case here. Even if the ...fantastic plays some wild mind games, reality will present you with a medium-bodied, balanced wine that has a soft yet not flabby personality, though it does fall short in terms of flavour and finish.However, in no case will you be presented with a Retsina, no matter how many glasses and temperatures you change—though the Gabriel Glas Stand Art at 9-11°C is recommended. This way, you can enjoy the Retsina—err, I meant to say your mature white wine!—alongside a mushroom risotto, stuffed turkey, or white meat with a crust of nuts.
At under €10, Liepouri’s Retsina will take you on a journey into the twilight zone, where nothing is quite as it seems. Perhaps a visit to the producer’s website will shed light on the inexplicable, as the description mentions an unimaginably low resin content of just 0.3‰!! In any case, Liepouri`s Retsina would undoubtedly offer Mr. Serling the ultimate inspiration!
Rating: 7/10.
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