Pieria Eratini : Gymni Vasilisa Naked Queen 2018

Characteristics and tasting advice for Gymni Vasilisa Naked Queen 2018 from Pieria Eratini

Tasting

Appearance

With a brilliant golden hue, this white wine reflects the grapes’ ripeness and its careful aging in barrels.

Nose

The aromatic bouquet reveals fine complexity, with notes of exotic fruits and ripe citrus, notably bergamot and lemon zest. Floral aromas of acacia and honeysuckle mingle harmoniously with hints of honey, hazelnut, and sage, creating a refined, elegant whole.

Palate

On the palate, this dry white wine shows a velvety, creamy texture, the result of extended aging on fine lees. The palate offers lovely concentration with flavors of candied orange, ripe peach, and toasted almond, complemented by notes of toasted bread and subtle floral touches. Well-balanced acidity brings structure, while a delicately saline finish adds minerality and length to the tasting.

Food and wine pairings

Gymni Vasilisa Naked Queen 2018 pairs ideally with a poultry roulade, carbonara pasta, duck à l’orange, or pan-seared scallops with butter. This cuvée also matches beautifully with grilled fish, shellfish, and white meats in sauce.

Serving and cellaring

To fully appreciate the qualities of Gymni Vasilisa Naked Queen 2018, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. This wine can be cellared and offers interesting aging potential.

A Greek white wine from Macedonia aged in acacia barrels

The estate

Founded in 2006 by three experienced oenologists—Pavlos Argyropoulos, Andreas Pantos, and Stelios Pyrpilis—the Pieria Eratini estate spans around 15 hectares of organically farmed vineyards. Located in Kolindros, on the foothills of Mount Olympus in the region of Macedonia and Thrace, the estate stands out for its innovative approach, combining ancestral Byzantine techniques with contemporary methods. Drawing on a combined twenty-five years of experience across various prestigious Greek vineyards, the three founders have created a unique identity by highlighting both indigenous and international grape varieties. Today, Pavlos Argyropoulos and Andreas Pantos run this family estate, which has established itself as a benchmark for modern Greek winegrowing.

The vineyard

The vines of Gymni Vasilisa Naked Queen are planted on the slopes of Mount Olympus, at an altitude between 400 and 450 meters, in the Kolindros area of Macedonia. This terroir benefits from an exceptional geographic position between mountain and the Aegean Sea, creating a microclimate particularly favorable to viticulture. The light soils, composed of sand and clay enriched with calcium carbonate, lend the grapes fine minerality. The vines, organically farmed with intentionally limited yields, benefit from cooling sea breezes and significant day-to-night temperature swings during ripening. This privileged setting allows for slow, balanced maturation of the white grapes, developing aromatic complexity and freshness.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage in Macedonia and Thrace benefited from favorable climatic conditions that enabled optimal grape ripening. High-altitude vineyards enjoyed a balanced growing cycle, with summer temperatures moderated by maritime influence and cool nights preserving the berries’ natural acidity.

Winemaking and aging

Gymni Vasilisa Naked Queen 2018 is crafted using an approach that respects both fruit and terroir. After a pre-fermentation cold extraction designed to gently draw out aromatic compounds, the must ferments in new acacia barrels. This wood, rarer than traditional oak, contributes subtle floral notes without masking the expression of the terroir. The wine is then aged on fine lees for about twelve months in these same acacia barrels, developing its creamy texture and aromatic complexity while preserving its natural freshness.

Grape varieties

Assyrtiko (85%)
Chardonnay (15%)