White Wine
Assyrtiko
Dry
Medium Bodied
750ml
13.8% alc./vol

Vassaltis Santorini Assyrtiko 2021

Santorini, Greece

94 points - Wine Align

$67.95per bottle ($407.70per case)
6 bottles per case

Mineral & Zesty

Vassaltis is the latest addition to Santorini’s long, storied winemaking history. Owner Yannis Valambous’ passion for wine drew him back to the island of Santorini, where he spent many a happy family holiday as a child. In the wake of the 2010 Greek financial crisis, a plan took root in his mind, a plan that was part dream, part folly. Yannis sought to breathe new life into the vineyards he inherited from his father.

An exceptionally complete wine with a great ageing potential, shows the true essence of what Santorini and Assyrtiko are about: aromas of basalt and pumice stone with ripe tropical fruits, honeysuckle and maritime salinity, and a palate of salty green fruits with high levels of minerality and acidity. The long aftertaste adds depth and weight to the wine making it a perfect pairing for seafood and fish.

Press Reviews

Wine Align

94 points - John Szabo, MS

2020 vintage: This is a clean, intense, yellow-fleshed orchard fruit and ripe citrus-flavoured (pink grapefruit, orange, candied lime) example of assyrtiko sourced from throughout Santorini. The palate is deeply structured, complex, full-bodied, saturated with flavour, even lightly tannic, with excellent length and depth. An explosive wine in the final analysis, with sufficient structure and depth to improve over the next 3-5 years I suspect - a real tour de force - exceptional wine. Tasted October 2021.

93 points - Michael Godel

2020 vintage: The “entry-level” or “sodeiá” from Vassaltis is the assyrtiko least adorned, a straightforward volcanic expression of salt, grit, marine air and “exousía.” Power and control, emotions in check, richness a given when considering the quality of fruit from these northerly Santorini vineyards but salinity and basaltic intensity are at the core and the fore. Captures the true spirit of grape, soil and place with utmost respect and integrity. This is what it is all about and with a level of natural structure to see it age very well. Drink 2021-2027. Tasted October 2021.

93 points - David Lawrason

2020 vintage: This is a very fine sturdy yet elegant assyrtiko with beautifully knit aromas of yellow apricot/pineapple fruit, white pepper and a certain smoky/waxy minerality. It is medium-full bodied, very even, graceful yet solid with fine acid-alcohol weave. The focus and length are excellent. Lovely integration here. Very fine wine. Tasted Oct 2021.