2022 Argyros - Assyrtiko Santorini Cuvee Monsignori (750ml)

Estate Argyros has been in family hands since 1903, growing from a modest five-acre holding into one of Santorini's most respected wineries. Yiannis Argyros, the third generation to run the estate, took the reins in 1974 and began exporting the family's wines well beyond the local market. The island's volcanic soil remains naturally resistant to phylloxera, allowing the estate to farm sustainably without relying on synthetic pesticides or herbicides.

Cuvee Monsignori comes from ungrafted Assyrtiko vines over two hundred years old, planted in the historic Episkopi site at roughly 135 meters above sea level and trained in the traditional low, basket-woven kouloura style to shield the grapes from wind and sun. Yields are tiny. Fermentation happens with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel over nearly three weeks, followed by around ten months of aging on fine lees with regular stirring to build texture and depth.

The wine opens with citrus, white pepper, and dried herbs, layered over notes of oyster shell and smoky gunflint. The palate is powerful and saline, driven by piercing acidity and a long, smoke-tinged mineral finish. Pair it with briny shellfish, whole grilled fish, or eggplant dishes.