Ocean Mandilari-Syrah Red 2016 – Idaia Winery

The Philosophy

Our winery was among the first to recognize the potential of the Liatiko grape in producing exceptional sweet wines. We firmly believe that the PDO Dafnes sweet wines are a valuable asset for the Cretan vineyard. We began sun-drying our grapes for the production of our sweet wine just before establishing our winery. This wine is our driving force, as it reflects who we are in some way. It shares the same “age” with our “Idaia” winery and it represents our timelessness, patience, and perseverance.  Liatiko combines maturity with freshness, just like the first generation with the new generation. It evolves beautifully over time and it rewards us!

Flavor Characteristics

Medium garnet color with tawny hints. It boasts an extremely complex aroma profile, including notes of dried fruits, such as fig and apricot, as well as candied grapes and peaches, honey, chocolate, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is sweet and highly concentrated, with an incredible thickness and silky tannins. The Its wonderful acidity binds all the elements together harmoniously, providing a refreshing sensation that lingers on the palate, while the aftertaste is very long and jammy. It ages for at least 4 years in oak barrels and many more years in the bottle, while it has the potential to evolve in the bottle for many more decades. Enjoy it with grilled or cooked red meat with dark sauces, slow-cooked game, meat pies, pasta with mushrooms or ground meat, cold cuts platters, and aged cheeses.