2021 Karamolegos - Assyrtiko Santorini Ftelos (750ml)

The Karamolegos family has made wine on Santorini since the early 1950s, when the grandfather began tending vines as a hobby. Artemis Karamolegos founded the winery in 2004 and now farms just over three hectares across Pyrgos, Megalorchori, Exo Gonia, Akrotiri, and Fira, supplemented by long-term grower contracts. It is among the island's most awarded producers.

Ftelos comes from a single vineyard in Fira, where 150-year-old Assyrtiko vines face the caldera rim and root in volcanic soil. The fruit receives a pre-fermentation cold soak, then ferments in temperature-controlled stainless steel. The wine matures on its gross lees for 24 months with regular stirring, which builds texture and complexity before it rests further in bottle ahead of release.

Bright apricot and grapefruit lead the aromas, joined by flinty minerality, seaweed, and a touch of wild herbs and lemon pith. The palate is powerful yet precise, with a slick of lees richness, steady minerality, and a long, saline finish that lingers well after the last sip. Intense and electric, it is a wine of sea and stone with the structure to age.