2022 Moinoterra Winery, Archanes, Crete

Moinoterra is a fantastic little family-run winery in Crete. They're based in Archanes, a historic wine region just south of the famed Knossos Palace archeological site - it's where one of the oldest Minoan wine presses (from the 2nd millennium BC!) was discovered. Moinoterra is all about organic farming with (mostly) native Cretan grapes from these amazing high-altitude vineyards around the sacred Mount Yuhtas, and their wines are super expressive and offer tremendous value. This is an elegant red, a blend of the local Kotsifali and Mandilari grapes. It’s not particularly tannic, but it is aromatic with red cherry fruit and some spicy elements.  It’s a unique, satiating wine I like to chill down and enjoy in the heat. It’s nice as a cocktail, summer red and a versatile wine on the table that would pair well with many foods in much the same way as Gamay would from Beaujolais.