Wines Unspecified Alpha Estate - Alpha One - 2018

Viniou Reviews

Alpha Estate’s Alpha One 2018 is a distinguished red blend from the northern Greek region of Macedonia. This cuvée is the estate’s flagship and often features an assemblage driven by Syrah and, in certain vintages, enriched by selected parcels of international varieties such as Tannat, Merlot, or Negroamaro, though precise blends may vary year on year. The 2018 vintage benefited from a relatively cool growing season, ensuring freshness, complex aromatics, and refined tannins. The wine is vinified in a thoroughly modern fashion: hand-harvested grapes, careful sorting, temperature-controlled fermentation, and ageing for around 18 months in new French oak barriques, lending both structure and a well-integrated, spicy oak character.

The wine hails from Amyndeon in Macedon, a high-altitude plateau renowned for its chilly nights and ample sunshine, which together provide the grapes with the perfect ripening conditions for producing balanced, aromatic reds with fine natural acidity and longevity. The soils are predominantly sandy over limestone, ensuring excellent drainage and contributing to the finesse and subtle minerality in the finished product. Alpha Estate is recognised for its ambitious, low-yield viticulture and state-of-the-art winemaking, making it a leading light in modern Greek viticulture and a worthy ambassador for the region’s potential.

The robust yet elegant profile of Alpha One pairs beautifully with a range of hearty dishes. Think along the lines of slow-braised lamb shank with rosemary, a classic moussaka, roasted root vegetables, or even a grilled beef ribeye. The wine’s spicy, smoky and berry-driven nose dovetails wonderfully with the flavours of Mediterranean cuisine—olive tapenade, grilled aubergines, or a platter of mature Greek cheeses such as kefalotyri or graviera would all make superb companions.

For optimal enjoyment, serve Alpha One 2018 at 16-18°C, ideally after decanting for an hour to allow its complex bouquet to unfurl. In its maturity journey, the wine already offers depth and harmony, but it can continue to develop beautifully for several more years in a well-kept cellar.