- Tasting profile
- Full tasting notes live in the deep dive.
- What the name means
- Sour black. The name is xino (acid) and mavro (black), a warning label and a promise in one word.
- In the glass
- Pale garnet. The colour fools you.
- Where it grows
Naoussa, Greece - Where to start
- Kir-Yianni The benchmark. Village Naoussa, a step up in polish, still near $25.
- Thymiopoulos The value hero, near $23. The 'Young Vines' bottle to hand a sceptic.
- Markovitis Old-school Naoussa with the backbone to age.
- The catch
- Young, it is austere: pure grip and acid. Give it a few years, or an hour in a decanter.
- Where to buy
- For specific bottles and where to buy them, read the deep dive.
Keep exploring
The region
Buying GuideRelated underdogs
Xinomavro: common questions
- How do you pronounce Xinomavro?
- Xinomavro is pronounced ksee-NOH-mah-vroh.
- What does Xinomavro mean?
- Sour black. The name is xino (acid) and mavro (black), a warning label and a promise in one word.
- Where does Xinomavro come from?
- Xinomavro grows in Buying Guide.
- What does Xinomavro taste like?
- Expect tomato, dried rose, olive, tar. Closest familiar reference: Nebbiolo — the 'Greek Barolo,' tar and roses.
- Which Xinomavro should I start with?
- Kir-Yianni: The benchmark. Village Naoussa, a step up in polish, still near $25. Thymiopoulos: The value hero, near $23. The 'Young Vines' bottle to hand a sceptic. Markovitis: Old-school Naoussa with the backbone to age.
- What is the catch with Xinomavro?
- Young, it is austere: pure grip and acid. Give it a few years, or an hour in a decanter.
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