Critics reviews
David Harrison - Foodism, May 2017
Victoria Moore - The Daily Telegraph, Nov 2016
About this WINE
Domaine Lyrarakis
Domaine Lyrarakis, established in 1966, is located in the mountainous commune of Alagni (440 metres above sea-level), south of the city of Heraklion, in Crete. The well-preserved 14th-century stone-presses in the fields around the winery are testament to the area’s long history of grape-growing and winemaking.
The winery is at the forefront of viticultural innovation, championing obscure local varieties such as the ancient white cultivars of Plytó, Dafni, and Vidiano, that it rescued from extinction.
The winery’s extensive portfolio consists of a range of monovarietal wines (Vidiano, Plytó, Mandilari, Assyrtiko, Vilana, Thrapsathiri, Kotsifali) – some from single, “premium” vineyard plots, as well as blends of indigenous and international varieties (such as Syrah, Cabernet and Merlot). Quality remains key and the style emphasises fruit precision, purity and supple texture – placing the wines firmly in the modern camp, yet without flamboyance or exaggeration.
Plyto
Plytó is an ancient variety for white wine making grown in the Peza wine region of Crete, and that was brought back from extinction by the Lyrarakis Domaine .
Low-yield farming and high vineyard elevation are two key factors in the renewed success of the grape.
Plyto is lively, with a zippy and mouth-watering mix of grapefruit and mineral notes.
Plyto is typically vinified on its own, but has also been used in a blend with other indigenous white grapes of Crete ( Dafni, Vinala and Vidiano) to produce a distinctive rendition of the ancient sweet wine of Crete, Malvasia.
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Description
The family-run Lyrarakis estate has made a habit of rescuing indigenous grape varietals from the brink of extinction – first the remarkable, laurel-scented Dafni, now the equally characterful Plytó. Grown in the spectacular Psarades vineyard, which sits close to 500 metres altitude, this is the only 100% Plytó in commercial production anywhere on the planet. It has a dazzling yellow hue and subtle aromas of white flowers and orchard fruit. There’s an engaging saline lick and ‘olive pit’ bitterness to the finish, as well as the finesse and freshness that are hallmarks of the domaine. I enjoyed this at first sip, but fell in love with it over a plate of whitebait.
Will Heslop - Wine Buyer Bart Lyrarakis heads up this family-run domaine which has made a habit of rescuing indigenous varietals from the brink of extinction – first the remarkable, laurel-scented Dafni and now the equally characterful Plytó.
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