SEPTEMBER 21, 2024 ~ GREG SHERWOOD MW
The Diamantakis Winery is a modern winery situated in the centre of the island of Crete, about 45 minutes south of the coastal city of Heraklion in the heart of Malevizi Province outside the village of Kato Assites. The focus of this third-generation family-owned winery is the production of high-quality red, white, and Rosé wines that respect their local terroir as well as local winemaking traditions.
This is achieved by combining the unique local microclimates of the region with the native grape varieties like Liatiko, Vidiano, Assyrtiko and Mandilaria as well as some classical cultivars like Syrah and Chardonnay.
Their current production consists of around 130,000 bottles in a range that includes four white wines, two Rosé wines and three reds. In early August, I ventured out to their mountainous winery to meet with one of the co-owners, Zacharias Diamantakis, their oenologist, who led me through an extensive tasting of both current and historic vintages while workers continued with the grape harvest alongside us.
Like most quality wine regions of Greece, Cretan wines have undergone an admirable quality revolution over the past 8 to 10 years, with several wineries like Diamantakis leading the way forward.
If you are visiting Crete, be sure to look out for their wines, or arrange an appointment to visit their impressive newly completed winery.
Diamantakis Winery Vidiano 2023, PGI Crete, 13.5% Abv. Tank fermented and aged for 3 months on its fine lees with a little batonnage reveals an aromatics of apricot skins, almonds, quince and subtle green papaya hints. The palate is pithy with some grippy phenolics, a medium bodied weight with a cool freshness and subtle notes of musk, white peach and pineapple pastille on the spicy finis . A delicious food orientated white. (Wine Safari Score: 91/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Diamantakis Winery Vidiano 2019, PGI Crete, 13.5% Abv. A golden green, yellow colour, the aromatics show complex evolutionary notes of lemon iced tea, pear puree, oatmeal and savoury honey chamomile nuances. The palate is round and glycerol with a lovely underlying vein of acidity supported by pithy, honied white citrus notes, white peach, and a spicy, peppery finish with good balance.
(Wine Safari Score: 89/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Diamantakis Winery Vidiano 2017, PGI Crete, 13% Abv. A lovely expressive aromatics with complex notes of honey on white toast, warm sourdough, brine, lemon peel, crushed almonds, herbal tea and baked apples. The palate is incredibly fresh, youthful, vibrant and complex with much more tension (than the 2019), a limestone minerality, and a purity of white peach and yellow citrus fruits. Very classy with an aged Chablis’esque intensity but with an added layer of spicy aromatics and pithy phenolic grip.
(Wine Safari Score: 93/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Diamantakis Winery Petali Assyrtiko 2023, PGI Crete, 12.5% Abv. Made from bought in grapes that are tank fermented, the aromatics show a complex melange of white pear, white citrus, green apple, yellow rock candy, white peach, and subtle sea breeze notes. The palate follows with fleshy peach and pear fruit notes revealing a delicate spicy minerality, a glycerol mid-palate core of fruits, and a long, tangy, salty finish.
(Wine Safari Score: 91+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Diamantakis Winery Assyrtiko 2018, PGI Crete, 12.5% Abv. Made originally for the USA, but some stock made it to the UK. A honied yellow colour, the aromatics show evolution but plenty of complex notes of waxy quince, bergamot, grated citrus, hard cheese, and subtle fig and pear nuances. Showing all the development you’d expect on a 6+ year old Assyrtiko, the palate is spicy, fresh, and fleshy with youthful breadth and depth, a spicy limestone minerality, pithy citrus and peppery phenolics with a finish showing a youthful lime peel and sea salt intensity. Impressive and classy. (Wine Safari Score: 91/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Diamantakis Winery Assyrtiko 2016, PGI Crete, 12.5% Abv. From a high altitude vineyard at 700 metres. A deep honied yellow colour suggests plenty of age but in the glass, the wine is pithy, spicy and notably saline with a tangy, briney line of acidity, plenty of tartness and tension, overt green apple and white peach fruits, peppery phenolics, and a long, intense youthful finish. A wine that confounds the sight and smell senses and delivers an extraordinary complexity on the palate. (Wine Safari Score: 92+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Diamantakis Winery Prinos White 2023, PGI Crete, 12.5% Abv. A tank fermented blend of Malvasia Di Candia Aromatica and Chardonnay shows a vibrant, candied aromatics packed full of peach bon bons, green apple pastille, and pear fruits before a deliciously vibrant and expressive palate with pithy citrus notes, peach skins, spicy phenolics and a final burst of juicy white orchard fruits on the finish. The perfect all rounder for sipping or with food. (Wine Safari Score: 89/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Diamantakis Winery Prinos White 2013, PGI Crete, 13.5% Abv. Over 11 years old already, this fascinating white blend still has much to offer with complex aromatics of honey and mint, menthol herbs, sweet peach and lemon balm. The palate shows a fleshy youthful core of fruit with textural breadth and depth together with spicy phenolics, savoury peach and oatmeal on the finish. Surprising depth and integrity.
(Wine Safari Score: 88/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Diamantakis WInery Diamantopetra Vidiano – Assyrtiko 2023, PGI Crete, 13.5% Abv. Separately fermented in tank but completed in 500 litre oak barrels before 3 months maturation on its fine lees. The aromatics show complex notes of peaches and cream, vanilla pod spice and spicy citrus. In the mouth there is plenty of freshness and pithy complexity with a tangy pear and white citrus depth, a subtle maritime salinity, finishing with a tangy green apple brightness. Lovely added texture from the barrel ageing but perfectly pure, fresh, and energetic. (Wine Safari Score: 92+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Diamantakis Winery Diamantopetra Vidiano – Assyrtiko 2019, PGI Crete, 13.5% Abv. A complex aromatics shows notes of petrol and honey over pear puree, savoury lemon, white toast, honey and lemon herbal tea nuances. There is plenty of depth and structure on the palate supported by a harmonious tangy acids freshness, honied quinces, pear and fig notes before a spicy, pithy peachy finish. A perfect food wine indeed. Delicious now at its peak. (Wine Safari Score: 91+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Diamantakis Winery Diamantopetra Rose 2023, PGI Crete, 13% Abv. Made from Liatiko tank fermented, the aromatics show deliciously enticing notes of orange peel, sweet orange Aperol vermouth notes, watermelon and smoky limestone mineral nuances. The texture is full and fleshy, broad but beautifully balanced, with a pithy orange peel spice and a long, tangy marzipan finish.
(Wine Safari Score: 90/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Diamantakis Winery Prinos Rose 2023, PGI Crete, 13% Abv. A blend led by 70% Syrah with 20% Mandilaria and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Top notes show a hint of reduction before pink fruits, strawberry and limestone minerality. The palate is round and fleshy with smoky struck flint hints, spicy baking herbs, pithy wood spice and a gently sappy finish. Just enough acidity to make your palate salivate for another sip!
(Wine Safari Score: 87/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Diamantakis Winery Petali Liatiko 2020, PGI Crete, 13% Abv. Tank fermented, with 20% whole bunch fermented before being aged 20 months in stainless steel before bottling. A translucent copper garnet colour in the glass, the aromatics lead with notes of savoury strawberry, dried herbs, bramble berry and a subtle sapidity. The texture is sleek, taut and spicy, almost akin to a slightly aged Langhe Nebbiolo, with more pithy bramble berry spices, savoury macerated oranges and a peppery, fine grained phenolic finish. Delicious when served lightly chilled. (Wine Safari Score: 90+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Diamantakis Winery Petali Liatiko 2013, PGI Crete, 13% Abv. A translucent garnet ruby colour in the glass, the aromatics are gently savoury and rich with a notional sweet sour plum note, macerated oranges, tinned grapefruit wedges in syrup, before subtle diesel rag and quince jelly notes. Still incredibly fresh and energetic, pure and precise with pristine fruit purity, spicy orange vermouth style spicy tannins and a long, intense finish that lingers on the palate. Really very impressive for a 7 year old tank fermented red wine.
(Wine Safari Score: 93/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Diamantakis Winery Prinos Syrah 2022, PGI Crete, 12.5% Abv. A deliciously pure Syrah red, the aromatics are decidedly spicy and sappy with brambly savoury notes, red currants, cured meats, dry straw, wood spice and sweet pepper corns. Wonderfully elegant and supple on the palate with spicy strawberry fruits, supple creamy tannins, a tangy acidity, and a sappy black fruited finish. Seamless, harmonious, and utterly delicious. (Wine Safari Score: 90+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Diamantakis Winery Diamantopetra Syrah – Mandilaria 2020, PGI Crete, 13% Abv. Tank fermented before being aged in 225 litre French oak barrels (with a few American oak barrels for the Mandilaria). The nose shows dried potpourri, bramble berries, cherry chocolate liquor, sweet black pepper and macerated oranges. The palate is vibrant, fresh and energetic with tart juicy acids, a fine grained spicy minerality and delicate peppery tannins. Lovely chalky grip and a fine palate depth and length make for a serious wine. (Wine Safari Score: 92/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
