Gaia Estate
Notios White
2008
Current price: about $15
We opened this southern Greek white to honor of the arrival in the U.S. of a friend from Greece. This wine is from the Peloponisos region, a blend of 50% moshofilero grapes from the Arcadian plateau and 50% roditis from the Corinthian slopes.
It's a little skunky on the nose—not in a bad way, mind you, just in a way that says Earth. Southern earth, apparently; in Greek Notios means "The one that comes from the south." In the mouth it's a little bit floral, but mostly it's flinty, minerally, and citrusy, with lemon and musk and something a little dusty, too. Savory, almost. Nice.