Aivalis Winery Le Sang De La Pierre 2022

Aivalis Winery Le Sang de la Pierre 2022 comes from the Aivalis family in Nemea, where father and son Christos and Sotiris Aivalis have built a reputation around showing the more serious side of agiorgitiko. The winery is based in one of Greece’s most important red wine regions, but their approach is distinctly focused on vineyard character, low yields, and careful élevage rather than producing a more generic expression of the variety. The name “Le Sang de la Pierre,” meaning “Blood of the Stone,” comes from the sight of deeply colored grape juice staining the stones in the vineyard.

The wine comes from a small vineyard in Traganes, Nemea, where the vines grow in very rocky soils and are farmed without fertilizer. A small portion of the grapes is allowed to remain on the vine longer, concentrating the fruit naturally before harvest. The wine is made from 100 percent agiorgitiko and is fermented and aged in large 500 liter French oak barrels for around 14 months. The larger format and relatively gentle use of oak give the wine time to develop texture without making the wood the dominant feature.

The 2022 is a powerful but structured expression of agiorgitiko, with dark fruit, sour cherry, spice, chocolate, and savory notes. The natural acidity and tannins keep the richness in check, while the oak is integrated rather than overt.

A distinctive Nemea red that shows how compelling agiorgitiko can be when old vines, rocky soils, low yields, and patient élevage are given the attention they deserve.