2006 Gaia Estate Agiorgitiko

What better wine to complement grilled leg of lamb and pastitsio than having this 2006 Gaia Estate that our Greek friends brought over for dinner. The color was inky purple and it was slightly dry but with flavors of black raspberry and red cherries that went great with our lamb. The wine is made from the Agiorgitiko grape and I asked our friends if it is called Saint George's grape, which he confirmed. I learned that from reading "Wine Grapes - A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours". The Agiorgitiko grape is the most widely planted grape in Greece found mainly in the Peloponnese. It is the only authorized grape variety for the Nemea appellation.
Reference:
J. Robinson, J. Harding and J. Vouillamoz, Wine Grapes - A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours, pg 10-11, Allen Lane 2012 ISBN 978-1-846-14446-2.