2019 Domaine Oinea "Lune Noire" Extra Brut

90% ungrafted Xinomavro and 10% Assyrtiko. Whole bunches pressed in basket press. Temperature controlled fermentation at 18-22 degrees Celsius. Low sulfur use, no chemical additives. 2nd fermentation in bottle. Sur latte for 18 months. Released 1 month after disgorgement.

Rich but yet delicate nose, citrus, pine, mediterranean bush and stones. Mouthfilling creamy mousse with everlasting tiny bubbles in perfect contrast with its refreshing acidity. Balanced. Considerable length. Cold climate wine. 

This is a pretty robust sparkling wine, as such, you can pair it with some substantial foods – like smoked salmon, spicy pasta dishes, burgers, grilled meats, poultry, mushroom dishes, hearty, and earthy vegetarian dishes too.

To remind you, one of the challenging things about putting obscure wines from small, family-owned producers is that, sometimes, there is little information to be had in terms of the winery. This is one of those occasions. Here is the only blurb I could find about them, which I got from the importer’s website. See if you get more out of this than I did. It doesn’t tell you sh#$ about anything of merit, IMHO: “Oinea has its roots in Passion. Passion for the good, the beautiful and the conscious. This wants to give voice to an area with an incredible vocation for the cultivation of vines. North Greece, Macedonia, a rural and semi mountainous place. A land that is still almost untouched, away from the frenzy of modern society. They are in Amyndeon, a small town 650 meters above sea level protected to the north by a mountain range full of conifers, lime trees and chestnuts, where nature still dictates the rhythm of the days, the light has a forgotten clarity, the sky is boundless and the wind takes the breath of the earth. Falling in love with this corner of the world was natural and an obvious consequence of deepening the potential of this wine-growing terroir. The land is composed mostly of limestone, calcareous sands and chalky stones; continental climate with sunny summers but with significant temperature variations between day and night and snowy winters that guarantee water reserves; the presence of two lakes that acts as thermoregulator and the presence of noble native vines that smell of ancestral traditions makes it a magical place for those among us who love real, authentic wine. The management of the vineyards is in a biodynamic regime and in the cellar spontaneous fermentations and non-interventionism are the masters.”