MERLOT 2016

AMPELONAS VATOPEDIOU BIO

An Organic dry Red Wine with Medium intensity and vivid ruby color
Aromas: Black cherries, red plums and strawberries with hints of dark chocolate and leather.
Palate: Medium body, silky tannins, red woods and black cherry
Serving temperature: 13 - 15 °C
Goes well with: game, poultry, roast chicken and cheeses

Merlot is fully acclimatized to the virgin ecosystem of Mount Athos. Enriched by the sea breeze of the peninsula, enriched by the warmth of the Greek sun, the French variety gives us a very delicate and rich red wine. Its nose gives a combination of black and red fruits with hints of tertiary aromas of leather and chocolate developing in the background. On the palate, the acidity is intense and the tannins are silky, well balanced with strong forest fruits and cherry flavors. You can comfortably expect this wine to improve further as it ages.

Vatopedi Vineyard

The vineyards of our monastery currently occupy an area of 70 hectares.

The wine is part of the diet of the monks on festive days and is also offered to the thousands of pilgrims who visit the monastery every year.

The vineyards of the monastery are particularly favoured by the environmental conditions. The light, sandy, medium texture and potassium-rich soils, the bouquets of the aromas of the unique Athonite nature, are carried by the sea breeze discreetly to the vineyards on the adjacent offshore terraces, where, through a secret dialogue built on the over millennial history of the place, they give the unique characteristics of our wines. The vivid interaction between the sun and the vine, especially during the summer months, never seizes and thus it "raises" the alcoholic strength and phenolic maturity, which gives a unique quality production.

Faithful to this tradition, maintaining the old facilities but using modern methods, we vinify the grapes from the organic vineyards of the Monastery. Witness to the winemaking tradition are the two stone-built buildings, where the wines are prepared in the old vats (wine vats) and stored in the cellar of the monastery.

The wines are matured in large old wooden barrels.