Brettos

Vineyard Zygos. Regional Wine of Atalanti Valley.

Grape Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Origin : From 4,5 hectares of the selected single vineyard ‘Zygos’, part of the private owned vineyard of Domaine Hatzimichalis in Atalanti, Central Greece.

Vinification: Classic red vinification under controlled temperature. The wine matures for 24 months, of which 12 months in new French oak barriques.

Tasting Notes: Deep purple colour. Charming, multidimensional aromatic profile where aromas of red currants, blackcurrants and plums are combined with hints of cedar wood and tobacco. The presence of wood is intense but it is counterbalanced completely by the dense fruity character. In the mouth it presents ideal balance as the robust tannins are ‘dressed up’ with the fruit and warmth lines with elegance and class. With firm tannins and a long persistent finish.

Ageing Potential: It is recommended for long maturation, beyond 15 years

Served: Best served at 18?C

Harmony: Enjoy it with roast red meat, game and semi-hard cheeses. The roast lamb is undoubtedly its ideal partner.

The Domaine Hatzimichalis has chosen to serve a unique ecosystem. This lies in Opountia Locris, a site in the valley of Atalanti in Central Greece which is surrounded by Mt. Knimida to the north, Mt. Chlomo to the south, Mt. Parnassus to the west and the northern Eubean Gulf to the east. The main natural trait of this ecosystem and its uniqueness is the cool breezes that flow from Mt Parnassus to the sea and vice-versa, in summer and winter alike.

They have created a complex as well as unique viticultural mosaic on 220 hectares of privately owned land. Soil, altitude, gradient, orientation, microclimate and the vines’ age and grape varieties are the factors behind the unique character of each of our terroirs.

Their strict application of suitable vine-growing methods ensures excellent crops of grapes. Then they employ their experience to make quality use of the produce, which is vinified in small individual batches per terroir and shaped with care combining modern technology with tradition. Thus they produce wines from their terroirs, which they offer alone or in selected combinations.

Of course, no ecosystem can be complete unless it promotes the set of local cultural and social values; respect to these elements rounds off the whole system and enhances its natural characteristics.

Domaine Hatzimichalis strongly believes that wine is a cultural good that reflects the time and place of its production, the convictions, cultural practices, ideas and perceptions that surround its making. Bearing this basic belief in mind, they actively participate in Greek cultural production and contribute to the study of the history of wine, of its relation with the past, present and future of Greece.

Since 1996, they have been publishing books that relate to wine and its culture. Their quality publications aim to address not only teachers, students, wine lovers and history experts, but all those interested in learning about wine and its world. Similarly, their winery in Atalante, Central Greece, has opened to the public; visitors enjoy a tour around the vineyards, they visit the wine making facilities and explore the small “museum islands”, i.e. exhibitions on historical aspects of wine making since antiquity.