Mouklos, Tsiakkas - 2024

The island of Cyprus has one of the oldest wine traditions in the world (dating back 5,500 years), but has been off of most wine maps for the last century. That’s changing in part because of the work of Kosta and Marina Tziakkas, who founded the Tsiakkas Winery in 1988 with the goal of bringing top quality wine back to the island. The couple, who cultivate biodynamic, ungrafted vines on mountain slopes at altitudes over 1,000 m, initially focused on international varieties, but turned their attention to native varieties (including Yiannoudin, Promara, Xynisteri and Vamvakada) over 20 years ago. Their Mouklos, made from 80 year-old Mavro vines made via 50% carbonic maceration, exemplifies their skill: aromas of strawberry, cherry, rose, and chocolate give way to a juicy palate, with notes of dried herbs and earth. Yamas!