Pata Trava by Domaine Ligas is a natural wine made in Greek Macedonia with Xinomavro grapes, as a blanc de noir.
Beautiful wine. Called a rosé but acts more like a skin-contact white. Ever so slightly volatile in the best way, lifts it nicely!
This is a direct press of a red grape, and has a golden colour to it. Aged in both steel and then wood.
Clementine, nuts & light toffee stand out. Impressive wine.
For those unaware, Domaine Ligas was created by Thomas Ligas, who experiments in the vineyard and in winemaking since 1988. The vines are planted in the valleys of Mount Paiko, in the old unknown terroir of Pella, 50 km from Thessaloniki in Northern Greece. They use chemical-free farming since the 1990s and Permaculture farming since 2007.
You also may recognise the name Ligas from the Sous Le Vegetal project with Patrick Bouju, which was done by Jason Ligas.
New to Greek wine? Here's some basic Greek grape info!
Assyrtiko:
White grape with a powerful, broad aromatic spectrum, vibrant acidity and fantastic minerality. Citrus fruit, stone fruit, fresh flowers and a touch of saline.
Roditis:
Pink-skinned white grape. Can be quite round with more moderate acidity. Tart lemon and apple notes give freshness and a touch of melon for a summery kick.
Xinomavro:
Greece’s Nebbiolo (to some). Pale coloured which may fool you but the tense acidity and dense tannin structure let you know that there is some power here. Expect red fruit, savoury umami touches and maybe even some dried figs.
